243132 Lt. Cyril Crowther British Army Royal Corps Signals from:Birkenshaw, Bradford, Yorkshire Cyril Crowther was educated at Birkenshaw National School and then Heckmondwike Grammar School, both in the then West Riding of Yorkshire.
Cyril began his overseas service in Cairo at the Middle East Signal School, where he completed a Signal Instructor's Course with a 'Distinguished' result.
He went to Egypt, Cyprus, Libya, Iraq and Burma with the West Yorkshire Regiment, 2nd Bat. and seems to have gone through most of the ranks as a signaller. He didn't speak much about his suffering to me, as a young child, except to mention the dreadful conditions in the Burmese jungle and the great friendship of the men. He also spoke of a much younger man, Corporal Freddie Mitton, also from the West Riding, who he tried to protect because he reminded Dad of his younger brother, Joe, also in the forces. When Freddie was killed at Imphal in June 1944, Dad agreed to go for officer training in India. He went to OTS in Mhow, India in 1944 and was awarded his Commission in early 1945 (London Gazette, 24 April 1945).
On return to England later In 1945 he went to York where he was appointed Adjutant and QMS FOR Northern Command Signals
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