Page 94 - All About History - Issue 19-14

ALL ABOU
T

YOUR HISTORY
O O

Share your past with us

Major Philip Walter
Plumb, aged 22 (1947)
Palm-leaf papyruses
at Myanmar National
Library, preserved
SHARE & WI
and catalogued under
Share your history Philip’s guidance
with us and win a
fantastic selection of
history books worth
over £50 if your
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This includes 24
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PLUS:
One year’s FREE O AMAZING STORIES O
subscription Children washing in the
street, Yangon, 1945
to All About History
Chroni

WE WANT YOUR…
Photos Burmese history
Scans of snaps that
offer insight to the past
Antiques and Marianne Piano a long-standing affection for the country and
objects My grandfather, Philip Walter stayedinBurmaforthreeyearsaspartofthe
Show off your family heirlooms, Plumb,wasborninthewinterof Army Education Corps, training and educating
mementos and retro curios 1925 at River Green in Buntingford troops for demobilisation and a return to civilian
Letters from the past – a Hertfordshire market town. life in a variety of occupations. He had a great love
He resided there for the duration of knowledge and education, and studied for his
Old correspondence can hold a wealth of
ofhislife,takingontheroleof LibraryAssociationexamswhileinBurma–bythe
historical info and fascinating stories
its historian and chronicling Buntingford’s places, time he was demobilised, he had been promoted
News clippings people and happenings through his photograph tomajorandwascommandantofatrainingcentre
Articles reporting on iconic events collectionandbooks.However,hisinterests with around 500 students under his care.
and research ranged far beyond the town in In1992,hewasoneofthefewindividualsfrom
Amazing stories whichhelived.Inthesummerof1945,toward outside Burma allowed to visit the country, as
Interesting or insightful tales passed theendofWWII,hewason-boardashipto president of the British Library Association (now
down from your ancestors Yangon (Rangoon), Burma (now Myanmar) with theCharteredInstituteofLibraryandInformation
Eyewitness accounts hisplatoon,asanofficerintheBedsandHerts Professionals) where he was able to assist Burmese
Regiment, when they received news of Japan’s librarians with the conservation and cataloguing
Did you witness a historic event in
surrender. The war was over. of numerous irreplaceable palm-leaf books and
person? Share it today
Upon disembarking at Yangon, Philip found illustrated manuscripts. His efforts and those of
Family trees Burma’scapitaltobeinaterriblestate,withno theBurmeseNationalLibraryhaveensuredthese
A chance to boast about famous or watersupplyandopenroadsidedrainsfullof scriptures can still be read and admired for many
significant ancestors sewage. Despite this first impression, he developed years to come.
Send your memories to: allabouthistory@imagine-publishing.co.uk /AllAboutHistory @AboutHistoryMag

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