WW2: Robin Rowland recounts learning Urdu in the war

Robin Rowland volunteered at 21 and asked to be posted to India.

There, he would see action in the Burma campaign and in the decisive Battle of Kohima in north-east India.

As part of his officer training, he was given Urdu lessons to allow him to command his troops effectively.

Robin Rowland was interviewed in October 2022. He died shortly after filming, at 100 years old.

We Were There aims to collect as many first-hand accounts as possible by 2025, the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, to preserve veterans' accounts for future generations.

The BBC is currently working on the project with a number of partners including the Normandy Memorial Trust and Royal British Legion. Some of the stories collected may be shared with our partners and used on BBC News platforms.

If you have a story to share, or know someone who does, please click here to tell us a little bit more or use one of the methods below.

Do you or someone you know have memories of World War Two? Please share these experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

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