236297 L/Cpl. Alfred James "Paddy" Whitelock British Army 716 Airborne Light Coy. Royal Army Service Corps from:Caledon, Co. Tyrone Jim Whitelock was born William James Whitelock in Billis, Co. Monaghan on 23rd July 1922. His family were farmers and weavers, spinners from the village of Caledon, Co. Tyrone. At the tender age of 15, Jim, as was he preferred to be known, walked to Armagh and joined the Royal Ulster Rifles. He gave them his father's name Alfred James and a false date of birth. That was on 1st January 1938. He was recruited as a Supplemental Reserve, Rifleman. On 25th October 1938 he transferred to the regular army (Royal Ulster Rifles) in Edinburgh until 4th May 1941.
I believe he was with the 2nd Battalion in Belgium 1940 and Dunkirk in June that year, one month off his 18th Birthday.
In 1941 he transferred to the RASC and started driver, mechanic training and, in 1944, Parachute training. His service record shows that he was in North West Europe December 1944 to February 1945, with the British Liberation Army in Germany March 1945 until May 1945 and the Middle East September 1945 until March 1946.
He was discharged in May 1946 and settled in West Yorkshire. He joined the St. John Ambulance Service and the West Riding Ambulance Service and gave 35 years' further service.
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