The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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261319 Sgt. Alban Mather British Army 6th Btn. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders from:Preston Alban Mather was born on the 1st April 1904 (although service records record this as 1906) in Preston, Lancashire. He was a labourer and stood a little over 5'4", weighing in at 126 lbs. He married Ada on the 3rd April 1937 and had four children: Marlene, Rose, Barbara, and Jean Alice. He lived at 72 Sussex Street in Preston. He enlisted into Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on the 23rd April 1928 in Preston. On the 11th November 1928, he was posted to the 1st Battalion. He was then posted to the 2nd Battalion in China on the 11th September 1929. Four years later, on the 12th December 1933, he moved with the Battalion to India, arriving on the 13th November. After serving on the Western Front in India for two years, he returned to the Depot where he was transferred to the Army Reserve on the 18th December 1935. On the 5th of September 1939, Alban re-enlisted and was posted to the Argyll Depot in Sterling on the 7th. On the 9th he was posted to 2nd West Yorkshire Regiment at Aldershot. He was posted to 'A' Company, 6th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, on the 26th November 1939. He then was attached to the 102nd Army Field Company, RE on the 8th March 1940. The Battalion were stationed at Bordon and left by train at 10:55hrs on the 10th of January 1940 for Southampton. They arrived at 13:30hrs and immediately embarked on the SS Duke of York, sailing at 15:30hrs.The ship lay off Portsmouth until dark. The ship arrived in Cherbourg in convoy at 08:15hrs. Alban served in France and Belgium with the 6th Battalion, who acted to control refugees. They took part in the withdrawal until instructed to help strengthen the defences along the Bassee Canal held by the 2nd Division. The Battalion were divided between the Brigades of the Division, with 'A' Company being attached to 5th Brigade and covering the immediate area of La Bassee with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Dorsetshire Regiment, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, and Worcestershire Regiment. Alban didn't return to the UK until about 21st June 1940. Michael Gregson Add to this record.  Related Content: 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales Own) 6th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 5th Infantry Brigade Battle of France and The Low Countries 1940 Operation Dynamo - The Evacuation from Dunkirk and nearby Beaches 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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