The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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249109 Pte Arthur Mortimer British Army 2nd Btn. Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) from:Bradford My father, Arthur Mortimer, who served with both lst and 2nd Battalions DWR during his service (from June 1936 - April 1944). He was 15 when he enlisted into the West Yorkshire Regiment Territorial Army, and into the Regular Army (1 DWR) in 1937. He was posted to 2 DWR in December 1938 and served with them in India and also during the Burma Campaign during the retreatand later as a muleteer. He was wounded by shrapnel in September 1944 and invalided back to the UK. In the photograph my father (seated) is shown with his friend (name unknown) who disappeared in the Burmese jungle; my father says that they had been asleep and that during the night his friend had disappeared - presumably taken by the Japanese. My dad spoke only rarely about his time during the war - just snippets here and there. He told me that he had learned to swim crossing the river Sittang during the retreat - it was either swim or be left behind. He also told me that on one occasion in the Burmese jungle when they were without food he had shot and killed a pig, but that as punishment for potentially giving away their position to the enemy he was told that he would not get any of the bounty. The pig was duly cooked and dished up whilst my dad went without; by the following morning everybody who had eaten the pork either had the runs or were feeling quite ill!! As a postscript I would just like to add that my great grandfather, grandfather, father and myself all served with The Dukes as Regular soldiers in a time span that covers from 1882 to 1975. Byron Mortimer Add to this record.  Related Content: 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment Burma & India Campaign 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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