FOR a 22-year-old mortar platoon sergeant, VE Day, 1945 made little difference and seemed like "a very damp squib".

Because Sgt George King, attached to the 51st Field Regiment, was one of General Orde Wingate’s Chindits – special forces operating deep behind enemy Japanese lines in Burma – and the war against Japan was continuing.

George, a Kent representative of The Chindits Old Comarades’ Association and The Burma Star Association, said at his home in Cooling Road, High Halstow: "Frankly, VE Day meant nothing to me at that time.

"I was a mortar platoon sergeant training other Chindits to go back into Burma and our war carried on until August. VJ Day was the memorable one for me – it meant that the Japanese had been defeated after two atomic bombs had been dropped on them. It was a great day and it meant that our work was now at an end.

"I was asked to stay on for another three months after demobilisation in 1946 to get what they called war substantiation, but I had had enough and I wanted to get home to the girl I planned to marry – Sylvia, who was in the Land Army at that time. We married in December, 1946."

Today, George is still desperately trying to find friends of his late brother who was killed in action 61 years ago.

The then-Gunner George King was in Assam preparing to join the Chindits in Burma when news came through that his brother, Charles, 26, had been killed in action during the 1943 Salerno landings.

George recalls: "My CO sent for me and told me the sad news but, to this day, I have never been able to learn any details of precisely how my brother died and in what circumstances he was killed, other than that he died in action at Salerno.

"I would like to appeal yet again to any of his friends serving with him in the 5th Battalion Hampshire Regiment that fateful day to come forward and contact me so that I can talk to them about Charles."

George, a market street trading inspector and an inspector in the Special Constabulary for many years until he retired, added: "Charles is buried at the military cemetery in Salerno and I will hopefully be visiting his grave very soon."

Anybody with information about the late Cpl Charles King is asked to contact George at Haytor, 23 Cooling Road, High Halstow, ME3 8SA or telephone 01634 256224.