The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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245943 Sgt. Jack Rich British Army 1st Btn. A Coy. Middlesex Regiment from:London (d.23rd December 1941 ) Sergeant Jack Rich was my uncle. He was the son of Jewish immigrants and born Ovaser Ricklovitch, he was a tailor. By the time he was called up for military service Ovaser had changed his name to George Rickman, at some point George became Jack and Rickman was shortened to Rich. As Jack Rich he became an army boxing champion and as Sergeant Jack Rich he gave his life for his country in Pillbox 14 during the battle for Hong Kong. Pillbox 14 was on the east-facing shore of Brick Hill, giving covering fire over Deep Water Bay. When the Japanese pushed west, they had to take the position to eliminate the machine guns. According to Carew (and he knew more about the Middlesex than any other regiment, so I believe it is correct), Marsh, the CO of C Coy was at Little Hong Kong (where I am giving my presentation on April 1st) and was on the phone from there to Sergeant Rich all through the battle for the position. In a straight line, it would only be half a mile away. The pillbox was finally overrun, and all inside perished. Rumours persist that they may have been captured alive and murdered. Middlesex soldiers were seen, tied up and bayoneted, in that general area, but there is no proof of who they were. Interestingly, the police force here has a legend that a few years after the war, policemen on a cross country run on Brick Hill found a skeleton crouched over a rusting Vickers machine gun in a gully nearby. Letter from Tim Carew, Author Tony Banham Add to this record.  Related Content: 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment Battle of Hong Kong 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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