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Those known to have served with 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Bond James William. CQMS (d.1st October 1942)
- Burgess John Thomas. L/Cpl (d.25th December 1941)
- Cheney James Michael. L/Cpl.
- Cooper William George. L/Cpl. (d.24th December 1941)
- David Howell. Pte. (d.12th May 1945)
- Despy Stanley Malcom.
- Flood Thomas Michael. Pte.
- Lipscombe James. Pte.
- North Frederick Ernest. Pte. (d.1st Oct 1942)
- Oliver Norman George. Pte. (d.20th January 1940)
- Page MID Leslie Charles. Sgt.
- Rich Jack. Sgt. (d.23rd December 1941 )
- Ryan Michael Christopher. Pte.
- Ryan Michael Christopher. Pte.
- Sword MC. Roderick Dennistoun. Mjr.
- Tunmer William Arthur. Bndsmn. (d.1st-2nd Oct 1942 )
- Wilderspin Harry Albert. L/Cpl. (d.4th March 1943)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
Records of 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment from other sources.
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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
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Want to know more about 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment? There are:1406 items tagged 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Pte. James Lipscombe 1st Btn. Middlesex Regiment James Lipscombe is my grandad. He was captured on Christmas Day 1941 fighting against the Japanese. He spent 3 years as a prisoner of war.
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L/Cpl. William George Cooper 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment (d.24th December 1941) My father never knew what happened to his brother, William Cooper apart from that he died in the War.
It was about 30 years ago that my family research began and in 1996 I visited the Sai Wan Bay Memorial, Hong Kong and found William's name in Column 14.
I sat there on a beautiful day with tears falling down my face because I had found him and was the first member of his family to come and pay respects.
I have no photographs of him so do not know what he looked like.
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Pte. Michael Christopher Ryan 1st Btn. Middlesex Regiment Michael Ryan, son of Timothy and Margaret, came from Buttevant, Co. Cork, Eire. He joined the British Army in 1937 joining the 1st Middlesex Regiment, the Die Hards.
He fought in defence of Hong Kong and was captured on Christmas Day 1941. He was imprisoned in Sham Shui POW camp. He was later transported by hell ship to Japan where he laboured in the docks. He survived his captivity and was liberated in September 1945.
He returned home. He died on the 30th June 1977 at Chadwell Heath Hospital, Ilford, Essex
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Pte. Michael Christopher Ryan 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment Michael Ryan, son of Timothy and Margaret, came from Buttevant, Co.Cork Eire. He joined the British Army before 1937 joining the Middlesex Regiment, the Die Hards. He fought in defence of Hong Kong he was captured on Christmas Day 1941. He was imprisoned in Sham Shui Po camp. He was later transported by hell ship to Japan where he laboured on the docks. He survived his captivity and returned home. He died in late June 1977 at Chadwell Heath Hospital, Ilford.
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L/Cpl John Thomas Burgess 1st Battalion, C Coy. Middlesex Regiment (d.25th December 1941) My Great Uncle Tommy Burgess was a regular soldier from 1934 and was posted to Hong Kong in 1936ish. We have photos of him on leave and in Training at Mill Hill. He is listed on the Memorial to the Missing at Sai Wen Cemetery.
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Sgt. Jack Rich 1st Btn. A Coy. Middlesex Regiment (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.
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Pte. Thomas Michael Flood 1st Btn. Middlesex Regiment My father, Thomas Flood, was born in Tipperary Ireland. He moved to London in his late teens. He joined the British Army (a thirty-niner) and was dispatched to Europe, was at Dunkirk and I have his membership to the now ceased association. After Dunkirk he was moved about a reasonable bit, then was assigned to the Middlesex Regiment. He was at the Battle of Normandy, they eventually got to the Belsen Prisoner of War camp and witnessed the liberation of the prisoners, the horrific treatment they received and eventually the end of the war. Not too sure if I'm missing a number off the end of his service number as I viewed the old wedding certificate that was conducted in Hackney London
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Mjr. Roderick Dennistoun Sword MC. 1st Btn. Middlesex Regiment Roddy Sword was my father-in-law. He was a regular and served with the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment in the BEF. He got his MC during the retreat to Dunkirk when his commanding officer told him to stand and protect the retreat of the battalion, which he did with proper gallantry. He was taken off later and became Lt-Col (before reverting to substantive rank at end of war).
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L/Cpl. Harry Albert Wilderspin 1st Btn. Middlesex Regiment (d.4th March 1943) My dear uncle Harry Wilderspin, who I never met and only learnt of his existence when I was 30 years old. Whilst visiting my widowed mother at her home I noticed she had a photograph of a young man whose photograph I had never seen before. I knew it wasn't that of my father, so I asked who it was. It's my brother Harry she said, he died in the WWII, he was 26, and a POW in Japan. Why I never asked her any more questions I will never know. After my mother died I looked frantically for Harry's photograph but could not find it anywhere. I did find a postcard from him to his mum and dad, it had printed on the front the words 'Cheerio, Till We Meet Again' and a picture of the boat he was sailing on, the HMT Dilwara. On the other side was a simple message from Harry saying Dear All, my last remembrance of sunny England. With lots of love Harry.
Sometime later in 2009 whilst commuting to work I was reading the Metro newspaper and just by chance noticed a caption saying 'Tribute' mess tin of WWII hero. On reading further it said the family of Cpl Charles Goddard, of Middlesex Regiment, were to auction his mess tin, he had etched the names of his dead comrades on the tin whilst at a Japanese camp. The last name on the tin was Wilderspin. I could not believe my eyes. The other names on the tin were Fennick, Funnell, Gentry, Pope, Webster, Francome, Morley, Remer (killed in action) and Ridden. I believe Harry died in the POW camp along with his comrades named on the tin, albeit Remer who died in action. So Harry was fighting in Singapore, captured and transferred later to POW camp in Japan.
If anyone has any photographs of the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, WWII, I would be very grateful if you could get in touch. Harry's War memorial grave is in Yokohama War Cemetery. I have promised to visit his grave one day.
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Pte. Norman George Oliver 1st Btn. Middlesex Regiment (d.20th January 1940) Norman Oliver is a first cousin (once removed). I came across his details whilst researching my family tree. He was killed whilst serving in China 1939-1940.
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