The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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243518 C/Sgt. Eric James Owen Smith British Army 2nd Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment from:Manchester My father, Eric Smith told me while in Burma he was awakened one night to a feeling of something heavy on his chest, it turned out to be a very large snake that had found a warm place to curl up. He managed to get the attention of another soldier in the next cot who after much deliberation took the side of an axe and flipped the snake off my Dad. Of course, by this time everyone in the tent had awoken and they finally got the snake into a sack. Another time he was a guard on a train carrying mail through to Mandalay when the roof of the train caught fire, they were able to get all the mail bags off but the train was left with nothing but the engine and another coach so the mail did get through. Dad started out with the Royal Gloucestershire Regiment which was disbanded and was ordered to join the 2nd Battalion, Royal Berks attached to the 19th Indian Division. After moving through jungle and swamps he said just about everyone was suffering from some form of dysentery or malaria. They finally located the camp emplacement of the 2nd Btn who had consolidated their position on the plains of Zeyawady. He said they used their Japanese prisoners to clear roads. He got a telegram saying his mother was seriously ill in hospital so the Army sent him back to England where he served the remainder of his Army time in a camp guarding German prisoners, one of whom made him a shoe caddy. That prisoner was just a young man who was a carpenter in Germany. Dad always said they were all young men full of passion and willing to die for their own countries. My dad was a wonderful, compassionate man who lived his life with integrity, loyalty and loved his whole life. Add to this record.  Related Content: 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment Gloucestershire Regiment Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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