Pte. Edward Francis Tallent
British Army 7th Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment
from:Stafford
My father, Ted Tallent, saw service in various countries. He was evacuated from Crete, was a Chindit in the first campaign and was part of Operation Doomsday in Norway in 1945. I have a certificate awarded to him by the King of Norway thanking him for his help in freeing Norway from the Germans.
My father kept a diary from his wartime action listing all the places he went to. Reproduced below are the details from his diary
The War Diary from the Second World War of 4919153 Private Edward Francis Tallent, South Staffordshire Regiment
Edward Francis Tallent, born 3rd August 1917 in Burton Upon Trent, died 21st September 1972 in Stafford. His parents were Stephen Tallent and Edith Mary (Bird).
He had enlisted into the South Staffordshire Regiment embodied Territorial Army and posted to 7th Battalion on 18th January 1940. Enlistment details: Address: 24 Young Avenue, Stafford. Trade on enlistment: Swimming Bath Attendant. Height: 5 ft 3 1/8 ins. Weight: 113 lbs. Chest: 34 ins. Eye colour: Light Hazel. Hair colour: Dark Brown. Religion: Roman Catholic.
Training: Passed DM course July 1942. Specialist MT Driver November 1944
1940 Stationed at:
- Blundellsands
- Bromborough
- Rugeley
- Staindrop
- Darlington
- Hurworth-On-Tees
- Elton Park
- Wynyard Park
- 18th Jan Enlisted into the South Staffordshire Regiment embodied Territorial Army and posted to 7th Battalion.
- 26th Jul Admitted to Winterton Hospital.
- 6th Sep Discharged Winterton Hospital. Arrived Stafford.
- 14th Sep Left Stafford.
- 8th Oct Posted to Infantry Training Centre.
- 2nd Nov Draft leave.
- 9th Nov Returned from leave.
- 16th Dec Left Lichfield. Arrived Stafford.
- 24th Dec Left Stafford. Arrived Lichfield.
1941
- 4th Jan Left Lichfield.
- 5th Jan Posted to 1st Battalion. Arrived Liverpool. Arrived Seaforth. Embarked at Liverpool per S. S. J. 18 (Samaria).
- 6th Jan Left Docks. In Liverpool Bay.
- 10th Jan Left Liverpool Bay.
- 11th Jan Arrived Bangor Bay.
- 12th Jan Left Bangor Bay.
- 25th Jan Arrived Freetown.
- 29th Jan Left Freetown.
- 8th Feb Passed Capetown.
- 11th Feb Arrived Durban.
- 15th Feb Left Durban.
- 3rd Mar Arrived Port Tufik (Tewfik) (Suez).
- 9th Mar Disembarked Port Tufik (Tewfik). Arrived I.B.D. Geneifa.
- 23rd Mar Posted to 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Left I.B.D. Geneifa. Arrived at El Tahag.
- 28th Mar Left El Tahag.
- 30th Mar Arrived Kabret.
- 9th Apr Left Kabret.
- 10th Apr Arrived Mersa Matruh.
- 23rd Apr Left Mersa Matruh. Arrived Sidi Haneish.
- 24th Apr Left Sidi Haneish.
- 24th Apr Arrived Fuha Drome.
- 26th Apr Left Fuha Drome. Posted to 16th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company. Arrived El Daba.
- 16th May Left El Daba.
- 17th May Arrived Ikingi Mariut. Left Ikingi Mariut. Arrived Alexandria. Arrived on Gun Boat.
- 18th May Rejoined Battalion. Embarked at Alexandria for Crete. Left Dock at 1.30am.
- 19th May Arrived at Crete.
- 29th May Evacuated on destroyer 'Jackal' from Heraklion.
- 30th May Disembarked at Alexandria from Crete. Left Alexandria.
- 31st May Arrived Sidi Bishr. Left Sidi Bishr.
- 9th Jun Posted to Infantry Base Depot.
- 31st Jul Posted to 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment.
- 14th Aug Embarked Egypt as Ship's Anti-Aircraft Protection Party.
- 1st Sep Proceeded on Ship's Escort Duties.
- 12 Sep Rejoined Unit from Escort Duties.
- 1st Jun Arrived El Quasassin
- 7th Jun Left El Quasassin. Transferred back to I.B.D. Geneifa. Arrived Geneifa.
- 8th Jun Left Geneifa. Arrived Ismailia Leave.
- 11th Jun Left Ismailia. Arrived Geneifa.
- 30th Jul Left Geneifa.
- 31st Jul Arrived Alexandria (Mustapha). Joined the 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment.
- 14th Aug Left Alexandria (Mustapha).
- 15th Aug Arrived Mersa Matruh (Boat Escort)
- 21st Aug Left Mersa Matruh (Boat Escort).
- 22nd Aug Arrived Alexandria (In Clink)
- 25th Aug Left Alexandria. Arrived Sidi Bishr.
- 1st Sep Left Sidi Bishr (Boat Escort).
- 3rd Sep Arrived Limassol, Cyprus.
- 9th Sep Left Limassol, Cyprus (Boat Escort)
- 11th Sep Arrived Alexandria.
- 12th Sep Left Alexandria. Arrived Sidi Bishr.
- 19th Sep Left Sidi Bishr. Admitted to 64 B.G.H.
- 29th Sep Left 64 B.G.H. Arrived Convalescant Camp.
- 18th Oct Left Convalescant Camp. Rejoined Battalion.
- 19th Oct Rejoined C Coy Mamura.
- 3rd Nov Left Mamura. Arrived Sidi Bishr.
- 17th Nov Left Sidi Bishr. Arrived Cairo. (Leave).
- 23rd Nov Left Cairo. Arrived Sidi Bishr. Left Sidi Bishr.
- 15th Dec Arrived Burg El Arab.
- 29th Dec Left Burg El Arab. Arrived Kam El Dik (Courier).
1942
- 14th Jan Left Kam El Dik. Arrived Amaria.
- 3rd Feb Left Amaria. Arrived Ikingi Mariut.
- 4th Feb Left Ikingi Mariut. Arrived El Quassasin
- 15th Feb Left El Quassasin. Arrived Abbassia (Cairo).
- 16th Feb Left Abbassia (Cairo). Arrived Massara (Turria).
- 22nd Feb Left Massara (Turria). Arrived Elwan. Left Elwan.
- 23rd Feb Arrived El Quassasin. Left El Quassasin.
- 24th Feb Arrived Suez Camp.
- 27th Feb Left Suez Camp. Embarked at Port Tewfik on Mauretania.
- 28th Feb Left Egypt.
- 6th Mar Arrived Bombay.
- 8th Mar Disembarked Bombay. Arrived Poona.
- 9th Apr Left Poona.
- 13th Apr Arrived Kunti.
- 3rd Aug Left Kunti.
- 4th Aug Arrived Calcutta. (Leave).
- 10th Aug Left Calcutta.
- 11th Aug Arrived Kunti.
- 19th Aug Left Kunti.
- 21st Aug Arrived Patna.
- 17th Sep Left Patna.
- 18th Sep Arrived Bhagalpur.
- 6th Oct Left Bhagalpur.
- 7th Oct Arrived Katihar.
- 21st Oct Left Katihar. Arrived Purnea.
- 28th Oct Left Purnea.
- 30th Oct Arrived Kunti.
1943
- 27th Jan Left Kunti.
- 28th Jan Arrived Daltonganj.
- 23rd Feb Left Daltonganj. Arrived Kunti.
- 15th Apr Left Kunti.
- 19th Apr Arrived Chittagong.
- 28th Apr Left Chittagong.
- 29th Apr Arrived Bariapur.
- 12th May Left Bariapur.
- 14th May Arrived Chittagong.
- 16th May Left Chittagong.
- 17th May Arrived Cox's Bazaar.
- 18th May Left Cox's Bazaar. Arrived Bawli Bazaar. Left Bawli Bazaar.
- 19th May Arrived Ramu Training Camp.
- 27th May Left Ramu Training Camp. Arrived Dassari. Admitted to C.C.S.
- 28th May Left Dassari.
- 29th May Arrived hospital Dacca.
- 19th Jun Left Dacca.
- 20th Jun Arrived Ranjiganj.
- 21st Jun Left Ranjiganj.
- 22nd Jun Arrived Calcutta.
- 23rd Jun Left Calcutta.
- 24th Jun Arrived Chittagong. Left Chittagong.
- 25th Jun Arrived Calcutta. Left Calcutta.
- 26th Jun Arrived Bariapur.
- 30th Jun Left Bariapur.
- 2nd Jul Arrived Nirsa.
- 3rd Jul Left Nirsa.
- 4th Jul Arrived Bariapur.
- 5th Jul Left Bariapur.
- 10th Jul Arrived Bangalore.
- 28th Aug Left Bangalore.
- 29th Aug Arrived Bombay.
- 12th Sep Left Bombay.
- 14th Sep Arrived Bangalore.
- 15th Sep Left Bangalore.
- 20th Sep Arrived Orcha.
- 14th Oct Left Orcha. Admitted to Jhansi British Military Hospital.
- 7th Nov Left Jhansi British Military Hospital. Arrived Orcha.
- 5th Dec Left Orcha. Arrived 21st B.G.H. Jhansi.
- 10th Dec left 21st B.G.H. Jhansi.
- 11th Dec Arrived Orcha.
1944
- 14th Jan Battalion left.
- 15th Jan Depot left.
- 23rd Apr Left Orcha. Arrived Agra.
- 24th Apr Left Agra.
- 25th Apr Arrived Delhi. Left Delhi.
- 25th Apr Arrived Dehra Dun.
- 20th May Left Dehra Dun. (Leave).
- 21st May Arrived Delhi. (Leave) Left Delhi. (Leave)
- 23rd May Arrived Bombay. (Leave)
- 7th Jun Left Bombay. (Leave)
- 8th Jun Arrived Delhi. (leave) Left Delhi. (Leave)
- 9th Jun Arrived Dehra Dun. (Leave)
- 25th Aug Battalion arrived.
- 21st Oct Battalion left.
- 28th Oct Battalion left. Arrived Delhi.
- 29th Oct Left Delhi. Arrived Agra.
- 30th Oct Left Agra. Arrived Shivpuri.
- 31st Oct Left Shivpuri. Arrived Lalitpur.
- 1st Nov Left Lalitpur. Arrived Malthore Camp.
- 26th Nov Left Malthore Camp. (posted to Indian Transit Camp)
- 28th Nov Arrived Deolali.
- 6th Dec Left Deolali.
- 7th Dec On board Strathaird. (Embarked at Bombay per S.S. 32-P).
- 12th Dec Left Bombay.
- 19th Dec Arrived Port Suez.
- 25th Dec Left Port Suez. Arrived Port Said.
- 26th Dec Left Port Said.
1945
- 1st Jan Arrived Gibraltar.
- 2nd Jan Left Gibraltar.
- 6th Jan Arrived Liverpool.
- 7th Jan Arrived Isle Of Man.
- 8th Jan Left Isle Of Man. Disembarked at Liverpool.
- 9th Jan Posted to 23 Infantry Holding Battalion. Arrived Ross On Wye.
- 10th Jan Left Ross On Wye. Arrived Stafford (leave).
- 8th Feb Left Stafford. Arrived Ross On Wye.
- 28th Mar Left Ross On Wye. Arrived Woodhall Spa.
- 29th Mar Posted to 2nd Battalion.
- 31st Mar Left Woodhall Spa.
- 1st Apr Arrived Stafford. (Leave).
- 14th Apr Left Stafford. Arrived Woodhall Spa.
- 17th Apr Left Woodhall Spa. Arrived Slingsby.
- 28th Apr Left Slingsby. Arrived Chadacre Park.
- 9th May Left Chadacre Park. Arrived Woodhall Spa.
- 10th May Left Woodhall Spa. Arrived Grantham.
- 11th May Left Grantham. Arrived Banff.
- 12th May Left Banff. Flew to Norway. (Operation Doomsday)
- 13th May Arrived Norway. Arrived Oslo.
- 30th May Left Oslo. Arrived Eidsvolle.
- 19th Jul Left Eidsvolle. Arrived Trandum.
- 17th Aug Left Trandum. Arrived Alvick.
- 18th Aug Left Alvick.
- 19th Aug Arrived Bergen.
- 13th Sep Left Bergen. Arrived Oslo.
- 16th Sep Left Oslo. On board Suecia.
- 19th Sep Arrived Tilbury. Arrived Chiseldon Camp.
- 21st Sep Left Chiseldon Camp (Leave). Arrived Stafford.
- 8th Oct Left Stafford. Arrived Chiseldon Camp.
- 10th Oct Left Chiseldon Camp. Arrived Stafford. (Embarkation leave).
- 21st Oct Left Stafford. Arrived Chiseldon Camp.
- 2nd Nov Left Chiseldon Camp. Arrived Stafford.
- 6th Nov Left Stafford. Arrived Chiseldon.
- 11th Nov Left Chiseldon. (Compassionate leave). Arrived Stafford.
- 13th Nov Left Stafford. Arrived Chiseldon.
- 16th Dec Left Chiseldon. Arrived Dover. Left Dover.
- 17th Dec Arrived Ostend.
- 26th Dec Left Ostend.
- 27th Dec Arrived Harburg.
1946
- 28th Jan Left Harburg. Arrived Osnabruck.
- 29th Jan Left Osnabruck. Arrived Antwerp.
- 30th Jan Left Antwerp. Arrived Ostend.
- 7th Feb Left Ostend. Arrived Tournai.
- 8th Feb Left Tournai. Arrived Calais.
- 10th Feb Left Calais. Arrived Dover. Left Dover. Arrived Oxford.
- 11th Feb Left Oxford. Arrived Hereford. Left Hereford. Arrived Home, Demobbed.
- 3rd Jun Released to Army Reserve.
Medals awarded: 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal War Medal 1939/45.
Testimonial on discharge: A very trustworthy, sober and intelligent man. He is a hard and willing worker, with a pleasing disposition. A very good driver. Military conduct: Very Good.
