The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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249531 CSM. George William Biggs British Army 2nd Battalion Welch Regiment from:Edwinstoe, Notts My Grandfather, George Biggs was sent to fight with the 2nd Battalion, Welch Regiment as part of the 19th Indian Dagger Division after spending the earlier war years manning the guns at Dover against German invasion in the Somerset Light Infantry. He told me some harsh stories when I was a youngster and this is what I remember of them. I recall him talking about talking his shoes off after a long period on the move and the skin of his feet came away in his socks because of the continuously wet conditions. He also mentioned the unpleasantness of drinking tea out of aluminium mess tins because they reacted with fillings. He spoke well of the imperial Japanese whom he said often left captured POW's in bamboo cages for the British to find along the track, but of the non-Japanese soldiers (presumably Koreans and Formosans) that their cruelty to POW's was well known. Some having been buried up to their necks with ants having eaten their eyes out, others used for bayonette practice. When he was flown out in a bomber after receiving shrapnel in his back they were transporting 2 Japanese POW's who were given blankets and cigarettes. He said when they were caught trying to light their blankets on fire, they were summarily thrown out of the plane. He spoke of the Japanese 'surrendering' with grenades in their hands which they would throw at the British once in range. He also mentioned coming across a platoon of women carrying military gear across a river. Thus they were considered combatants and true to take no prisoners mentality of that campaign, were all bayonetted. Brutal events and the reasons why he didn't talk about the war at all for many years afterwards. Philip Andrew Biggs Add to this record.  Related Content: 2nd Battalion, Welch Regiment Somerset Light Infantry 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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