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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
Announcements
- The Wartime Memories Project has been running for 24 years. If you would like to support us, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting and admin or this site will vanish from the web.
- 18th April 2024 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 263925 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible.
- Looking for help with Family History Research?
Please read our Family History FAQ's
- The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.
If you enjoy this site
please consider making a donation.
Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our
Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. |
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If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page.
Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home. If you have any unwanted
photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them.
The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted.
World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion
Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
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Want to know more about 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment? There are:1319 items tagged 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Pte. William "Tiddles" Tyldesley 4th Battalion Parachute Regiment  William 'Tiddles' Tyldesley, I believe, joined the Queens Royal Regiment at first, he then met my Grandad, Raymond Wells of the Royal West Kents during Dunkirk. He may have joined the West Kents when they returned to England after Dunkirk as he stayed with my Grandad until 1942.
In 1942 he joined another company, my Grandad was very upset as they had been best friends. I think he joined up for parachute training as I have placed him at Derby, Bulford Camp, Chesterfield, Hardwick Hall and Manchester. From my Grandad's letters I can place him in the following places during the War:
- Late 1943/Early 1944: Italy
- October 1944: France
- January 1945: Athens, Greece (possibly Operation Manna, Arkforce, Force 140 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade)
- January/February 1946 - Palestine
- I believe he was demobbed sometime after 21st Feb 1946.
He was born in Bolton, Lancashire, liked football, had a sister (who came down to Dartford, Kent to stay with my Nan during the War), he had at least 2 brothers - the oldest was demobbed in September 1945, the youngest had been serving in Italy. He mentions he was in 27 Group or over for demobbing in 1946.
He writes about friends called Tommy Simpson, who was in C Company (Possibly of the Royal West Kents), and who lives near William in Bolton and Dinky Aston, who was in Group 25 or 26 for demob.
The last address that I have for him is HQ COY. 4th Btn, Para Regt, MEF, this was in 1946.
Throughout my Grandad's letters to my Nan and other family members he always mentions Tiddles and wonders where he is, he is so pleased when he receives letters from him. After the war, for some reason, including moving houses, my Grandad could not find him. I know he lived through the war,but have no idea after that. My Mum remembers her Dad showing him a picture of Tiddles and saying "That was my best friend, I'd love to find him again". Unfortunately at that time there was no internet and, even now, unless you are a relative,or have lots of money to pay fees for research, that couples with the fact that the MOD do not release documents yet means that my Grandad died unable to find his best friend. I have been trying to do that for the last year. I would be so grateful to anyone that knows or has information William 'Tiddles' Tyldesley, and can help me find out what happened to him.
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