211844 Rfmn. Bertie Parkin British Army 1st Battalion Cameronians from:Darlington, Durham (d.19th April 1942) Bertie Parkin of the 1st Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
died on 19 April 1942, aged 26 years. His name is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial. None of my family is sure what actually happened to Bertie, only he never came home. He was presumed killed or missing. A search on Google turns up a note about his campaign medals which somehow were sold in auction in 2008 and that his name is listed on the Rangoon Memorial in Myanmar.
I have a number of his letters home from 1941/42 when he was serving in Meadows Barracks, Secunderabad, Deccan, India. These go into a lot of detail: Onions with every meal and eggs costing 1d each. 10 Players cigarettes for 3d. Cakes and tea from the Charwalla which they get 'on the book' and pay for at the weekend. How the natives do everything for them and he even gets a shave in bed and then has his bed made and boots cleaned by a native.
Going to the pictures to see "Green Light" and Laurel and Hardy in "A Close Shave".
He goes about with a couple of friends from Hexham and Copley but doesn't mention their names.
There's lots more letters and info if anyone is interested I can pass this on.
If anyone has any information or can tell me how to access the war diaries from the date he was listed as killed that would be hugely appreciated.
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