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Pte. Albert Edwin "Bill" Billington MID.. British Army 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment from Leicester My father, Albert Billington joined The Territorial Army in Leicester during 1939 realizing that war was inevitable. He had a strong sense of duty and of right and wrong and knew that Hitler had to be stopped. Almost immediately after war had been declared in September 1939 he received his call up papers and joined the 1/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment in the rank of private. He was trained, as all infantry were, to use the Lee Enfield rifle but also went on to be very proficient with both the Mortar, and Sten and Bren guns.
He was sent to Norway as part of the Expeditionary Force under Guy German, his Commanding Officer, in April 1940 and recalled it later as being a complete fiasco. With the sinking of their supply ship, he, like all the rest, possessed no winter clothing and very little in the way of ammunition. Their mortars only had smoke shells whilst rounds for their Lee Enfields, Sten and Bren guns was rationed. He was never bitter in later life about the fact that they had to stop tanks with rifles and that a great many good men were lost in the action.
Dad, like so many fighting men, could never bring himself to remember or discuss his experiences, saying that he preferred to keep those memories locked away. As a family we know little about the confusion that was the Norway Campaign, the actions that Dad saw, and where he was captured. What we do know is that he was Mentioned in Dispatches for something which he told us nothing about. This was recorded in The London Gazette in October 1945 and I believe Guy Gibson was also honoured at the same time.
After his capture, he eventually arrived at Stalag 20A (but we don't know at which site) at Thorn in Poland where he remained until January 1945. He was detailed to work in a local sugar factory, and because he was continually hungry, he would eat the beet raw, and any other by-products he could lay his hands on. The high sugar levels he consumed brought about serious skin problems, notably facial boils, and digestive issues. He later became badly jaundiced too.
He would speak of occasional showers under cold water (the only decent wash you could get) even in the depths of a bitterly cold Polish winter. He would also talk about delousing and fumigation which he detested.
For recreation, he became involved in the camp shows and acted alongside Sam Kydd on more than one occasion. I also have a colour photocopy of one programme at home from the camp which he managed to bring home with him.
One other piece of information is that he was shot in the calf by a German Guard at some point, for what I don�t know. Again, not unprisingly, Dad wouldn�t speak about it.
He endured The Long March to Freedom, and completely against orders, kept a daily log on a postcard. He detailed start and finish points for each day, noting occasionally when they had managed to obtain a Red Cross parcel or if a comrade had died. Throughout the �Death March� my father was accompanied by his friend Frank �Jack� Allen who my father believed had kept him going when he just wanted to lie down and give up. The two would often recount how their boots flapped open at the sole and how they packed them with newspaper and tied them up with bits of string. They talked too of frostbite and sleeping out in open fields under the watchful gaze of brutal guards.
They remained close friends after the war up until Dad died in 1975, after much suffering that we attribute to his many years as a POW.
Over the years the postcard deteriorated and Mum rewrote this diary and a couple of years ago, my son and I spent some time plotting the route. It was interesting to read his brief notes about their journey home after being repatriated by the Americans. Much of the journey across Europe was on horse and cart, American lorries, taxis and even at one point by what he described as a Hansom Cab.
Dad always maintained though that he had had an �easy war� compared to some. Sadly, I was never able to have that conversation with him to establish what he endured.
I would really appreciate contact from anyone who knew Dad or who has any information concerning him whilst a prisoner. Thank you in anticipation.
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ER Billington . British Army ER Billington served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Marine George Wilfred Billington . Royal Marines HMS Penelope from Bristol Dad, George Billington was on several ships including the Cardiff and Newcastle I believe. The story I remember was his being on the Penelope and somewhere off Malta in an engagement and being injured on a large gun by being thrown against its interior after an explosion. He ended up in hospital in Malta and while there German fighters machine-gunned the hospital, killing the man opposite dad's bed, apparently because we had sunk a German hospital ship by mistake. Penelope left and Dad stayed during the heavy bombing.
When he was discharged from hospital he eventually boarded a ship going to India before managing to get home as there was no other means of getting off Malta. He went back there with my Mum on holiday in the 1980s, but it was a mistake as it brought back too many memories. Dad died aged 86 in 2003. He was a good man with a wonderful wife, my mum. He was very lucky, a lot of people were not, and we all need to remember how much we owe them.
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AJ Billins . British Army Royal Fusiliers AJ Billins served with the Royal Fusiliers British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Pvt. William James Billner . United States Army Demolition Platoon 509 Parachute Brigade from Texas, USA The following was written by my grandfather, William James Billner:
On 15 Feb 1943 I was sent to Dallas, TX for a physical exam to determine my physical fitness for military service. I was found physically fit and was returned home for 7 days to complete my personal affairs. On 22 Feb 1943 I was transported by bus from Sherman, TX to Camp Walters, Mineral Wells, TX. This is where I was to take my Basic Military Training. The first day I received an issue of military clothing which was much too large. I was then issued bedding and assigned to a certain barrack where I would sleep during my basic training. The second day I was sent to the barber shop to get a so called G.I. (this means government issue) hair cut. I proceeded to instruct the barber how to cut my hair. The barber said OK soldier, but you will be back to get the rest of your hair cut off. Sure enough he was correct. I did return to the barber to get it cut as instructed. On the third day I received all of my immunizations. On the fourth day I started receiving instructions in my basic training which consisted of marching, drilling, physical fitness, forced marches and firing and maintenance of various types of small arms; rifle, pistol, machine gun and bazooka. After successfully completing 13 weeks of training I decided that I needed a change so I volunteered for airborne training. I was sent to Fort Benning, GA for the airborne training which was a little more specialized training, consisting of various schools. I attended the demolition school where I learned to use high explosives. After completing five parachute jumps and other requirements of the school I graduated and received my wings. Upon graduation I was immediately sent overseas by ship, taking 21 days and landing in North Africa. I received more training and then was sent to Naples, Italy as a replacement and was assigned to the demolition platoon of the 509 parachute brigade which was engaged in battle against the German army near Mount Venefno in Italy. After this battle and capture of a Roman Coliseum making the Germans retreat, we returned to Naples, Italy to reorganize and make preparations for an invasion of Anzio which was a strong point of the German army. At 4:23 AM on 13 Feb 1944 we landed and established a beach head and drove 3 miles inland causing the German army to retreat, die or become a prisoner of war. After 89 days of fighting we were relieved and returned to Naples, Italy to again reorganize and make preparations for an airborne invasion of Southern France. On 15 August 1944 we were taken to the air field at Rome, Italy where we received a briefing which consisted of an explanation of our mission which was to make a parachute jump 9 miles inland and forcibly take the city of Limoux, France and capture all German soldiers and equipment. We were loaded aboard the airplane. In a few minutes we were airborne. After flying for approximately 3 hours we jumped from the plane at 4:32 AM. Our mission was successfully completed. We continued to fight until the 13th day of September 1944. This was my unlucky day. I was sent on a recon mission along with five other soldiers and five French soldiers. Our mission was to come in contact with the Germans and determine their location and strength in number. As we proceeded up a valley in the Alps Mountains north of Niece, France we were pinned down by German machine gun fire. After a fierce small arms fire fight we ran out of ammunition to which resulted in being captured by the Germans. I was immediately relieved of my adequate American clothing which was replaced by inadequate German clothing and wooden moccasins – this was to prevent us from escaping. We were forced to walk many miles and then locked in an unmarked boxcar with no sanitary facilities. We rode the train for approximately 7 days being strafed daily by the American fighter planes who did not know we were there. We finally arrived at the train station in Mooseberg, Germany where we were taken to a P.O.W. camp – Stalag 7-A. This was a very undesirable place as the living quarters were very inadequate and the food consisted of nothing but a liquid which the Germans called soup. It consisted of 5 potatoes in 5 gallons of water. This was a very poor diet which caused all POW’s to have malnutrition. I lost approximately 45 pounds of weight during my stay in the POW camp. Each day we were loaded on a boxcar and taken into Munich, Germany railroad yards to work rebuilding the railroad track that the American bombers destroyed. On 4 January 1945 I was wading the snow in wooden moccasins working on the RR track in Munich when a sortie of American bombers came over and bombed the RR yard. I received a fractured foot and leg and was taken to a so called German aid station where a cast was applied from my waist down to my toes. I was also given a pair of crutches and instructed that I would have to continue to work. I worked until the 29th day of April 1945 at which time Stalag 7-A POW camp was liberated by the American 3rd army commanded by General Patton. We remained in the POW camp until 8 May 1945 at which time we were flown to France, put aboard a hospital ship and returned to the U.S. After a period of hospitalization and treatment at Brooke Army Hospital, Fort Sam Houston, TX, I was honorably discharged from military service. I have one statement to make concerning my military experiences: I am proud to be an American and I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve my country for a good cause.
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F Billows . British Army Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry F Billows served with the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Frederick H Bills . British Army 17/21st Lancers
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Sgt. Dennis Roland Billson . RAF(VR) air gunner. 101 Sqd. from Birstall (d.31st Mar 1944)
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F Billson . British Army Royal Armoured Corps F Billson served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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FJ Billson . British Army Royal Armoured Corps FJ Billson served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Cpl. Jack Billson . British Army Royal Army Ordnance Corps from Freshwater, IOW (d.3rd November 1943) Jack Billson was a favourite cousin of my mothers and a lovable person. He died in Malai 1 POW Camp, Thailand having been captured on 15th of February 1942.
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F/O. Rodrigue J. Bilodeau . Royal Canadian Air Force 407 (Demon) Squadron from Levis, Quebec, Canada My Dad, Rodrigue Bilodeau was very proud of his service and his squadron.
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Driver Fireman Bilsby . Auxiliary Fire Service Surbiton
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JF Bilsby . British Army JF Bilsby served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Pte. Clarence Bilson . British Army 1st Btn. Welch Regiment from Askern, Yorkshire (d.6th September 1944) Clarence Bilson died at Rimini, and is buried at Gradara Cemetery, Italy. He is commemorated on the new War Memorial erected in 2000 at Alexander House Community Resource Centre, Askern, Yorkshire, England.
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Marine Harry Bilton . Royal Navy HMS Sirius from Newcastle I first met Harry Bilton in training at Lympstone in Devon. After basic training we both went for further training at Chatham barracks, after which we both went to Malta. I went onto HMS Liverpool and Harry to HMS Sirius. When in port at Malta and if both ships were there, one would visit the other. Unfortunately we lost contact after demob. I am now 88 and living in France, and I wonder what became of him.
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Cpl. Thomas Bilton . British Army Essex Regiment from Birch, Kent
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W/O Hector Binder . RCAF 626 Squadron
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H Bindley . British Army East Kent Regiment H Bindley served with the East Kent Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Norman "Tommy" Binfield . Royal Air Force Does anyone remember "Tommy" Binfield?
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L/Cpl. Norman John Binfield . Royal Air Force
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RFJ Bing . British Army RFJ Bing served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Ronald Binge . Royal Air Force RAF Squire's Gate Ronald Binge, together with Sidney Torch, served at RAF Squire's Gate/Blackpool during WWII. They both performed in a concert/dance band in the RAF.
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Pte. Moses Bingham . British Army Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry from Kent, England I've just discovered that my late uncle, Moses Bingham, was a prisoner of war. I would appreciate any photos or other records that are available.
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R Bingham . British Army Royal Armoured Corps R Bingham served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Sgt Henry Bingley . British Army Northamptonshire Regiment Henry Bingley served with the Northamptonshire Regiment in WW2. He served as a Lance Corporal in Ballykinlar, County Down, Northern Ireland where he met and married his wife in 1939.
Henry was captured and was a POW at Oflag 18 in Austria. Research continues.
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Capt. Harold O Binkley . USAAF 20th Fighter Group Captain Harold O Binkley flew P51 Mustangs and later Lockheed P38 Lightning aircraft from Station 367 King's Cliffe during the second world war. He is related to me, a cousin, and during his service he shot down two German Aircraft and was reprimanded for flying too low and snagging tree branches in his undercarriage.
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WW Binks . British Army Royal Armoured Corps WW Binks served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project are no longer in touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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