Born on the 28th of April 1922, he had to lie about his birthday as many young men probably did in those times.
He went on to serve with the 8th Army, 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and Yugoslavia. He jumped into Primasole Bridge in Sicily and crept into Termoli. When they asked for volunteers to go into Yugoslavia, he volunteered. He went in with a group of less than 6 men to work with the communist resistance, it was here that he won the MM. (if you know anything about this, I would like to learn more of this mission and of the Termoli landing).
He was discharged on the 25th of April 1946, from the A. F. Signals (Royal Corps of Signals), at the rank of Sergeant
The "Testimonial" given him on his discharge papers reads - A very willing and hardworking man who can always be trusted to do a good job of work. He is thoroughly reliable, trustworthy and honest; and has shown great initiative in carrying out his duties even though outside the scope of his trade of operator, keyboard.
a quote from a conversation
We weren't any angels, Bob, we did a lot of good, we saved a lot of lives, but we also did what we had to do, we always did what we had to do and we always carried out orders. But you know these sabotage raids, they were fun, they were. We were absolutely free, and we had to live off the land.
The attack on Termoli was carried out by commandos and a group refered to as a "special raiding force". I would like to know who was the "special raiding force" and what roll they played. There was also a group who destroyed an ammunition store in an old fort on the east coast of Italy, can anyone elaborate on this? Please send any particulars known using this form.
Does anybody know anything about the British group who went in to rescue TITO during his retreat from Drvar?
Would anyone know what is the "23 WING (1941-45) OLD COMRADES ASSOCIATION"
I have found reference to the "Old Comrades Association" in a book "Swiftly They Struck" by Murdoch Mcdougall. In my soft cover copy the reference is on page 65. The sentence, "We became honorary members of the British Legion, and were urged to join the Old Comrades' Association."
For reasons unknown before "D-Day", they started to move troops home to England. Many asked to stay in what seemed to be the war zone, only to find out later that they had missed "D-Day". Here is a little known song of those unwitting "D-Day" dodgers
lets go and see a postcard collection he brought home from Italy
2575857 Signalman Jack Linder Cull - Royal Signals
Enlisted at Southampton into the Royal Signals Territorial Army and posted to
| 43rd Wessex Divisional Signals, 224 Signals Section | 06.09.38 |
| Posted to 5th Anti-Aircraft Divisional Signals Section | 12.01.39 |
| Embodied | 02.09.39 |
| Posted to No.2 Company | 05.02.41 |
| Posted to 1st Holding Battalion | 17.05.41 |
| Posted to 3rd Holding Battalion | 23.06.41 |
| Posted to Command Signals | 21.07.41 |
| Posted to 6 Air Formation Signals | 23.10.42 |
| Redesignated 'A' Formation Signals | 20.08.43 |
| Posted to 29 Wing Section 3 Air Formation Signals | 11.12.43 |
| Posted to 8 Air Formation Signals | 03.03.44 |
| Posted to 4 Air Formation Signals | 26.08.44 |
| Posted to 6 Air Formation Signals | 22.07.44 |
| Posted to 11 Line of Communication Signals | 02.03.46 |
| Released to Royal Army Reserve | 05.08.46 |
| Discharged | 20.06.52 |
Service with colours: 06.09.38 - 05.08.46
Overseas Service: Middle East 15.06.42 - 23.04.46
Medals issued etc. Territorial Efficiency Medal, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star,
Defence Medal, War medal 1939-45
The above information was all I received from the MINISTRY OF DEFENCE CS(RM)2b, Bourne Avenue,
Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 1RF,(telephone 0181-573 3831 ext.319) for the sum of 20 pounds. If you have
requested and received somebody's war records from these people, I would like to hear from you.
(reference 96/28439/CS(RM)2b/9)
This is a list of the names of my father's comrades, the address' are old post war. Yes, I would like to locate them!
| Capt. Ken Fraser | c/o Sir Francis Fraser, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Charlie W. Atkinson | 25 Buston Terrace, Newcastle-on-Tyne (153 Haiton Park Rd?) |
| George Beckett | 14 Fincham Road Liverpool 14 |
| Tom Bellew | 51 Clover Hall Cresc., Belfield, Rochdale |
| Chris Bindloss | Annesdale, 19 Half Edge Lane, Eccles Lancs |
| Techer Bradley | 11 Fercroft Ave., London E 12 |
| Jim H. Brinton | 50 Meadway, Ilford, Essex |
| Ron Byram | 783 Manchester Road, Milno Bridge, Huddersfield |
| Ray S. Chissell | 11 King's Road, Parkstone, Dorset |
| Pat Christhison | 15 Seaward Ave., Bournemouth |
| Jimmy N. Cowell | 15 Hodson Street, Blackburn, Lancs. (15 Hadian St.) |
| Harold Crawley | 9 Abber Ave., St. Albans |
| Dicky E. W. Dartnell | 11 Neville Rd., Lewes |
| Taff Davies | 36 Bridgate Rd., Rhyl (Chelston Dean, Park Avenue,Skewen, Nr, Neath, S. Wales) |
| Alan Dewar | 27 Salisbury Road, Norwich, Norfold |
| George Doyle | 15 Waldegrave Rd., Carlisle, Cumberland |
| Fred G. Ellison | 18 Oxton Sreet, Church Lane, Harpurher, Manchester |
| Fred Fisher | 29 Jackson St., Moston, Manchester |
| Johnny Girling | 3 Papillon Rd., Colchester, Essex |
| Ken Hills | 128 Emmanuel Road, Balham, London SW2 |
| Harry Hubbard | 19 School Grove,Withington Lanchester 20 (18Alan Road) |
| Norman Jones | c/o Cymot Ltd, 16 Long Street, Capetown (Smith Street,Durban) |
| Bill Kennett | 9 Ship St., Brecon, S. Wales |
| Lew Lawton | 15 Cottage Lane, Macclesfield, Cheshire |
| Bob Lea | 16 Baldwyn Gardens, Acton London W3 |
| Joe Mackinnon (D. W.) | 45 Lundavra Road, Fort William, Inverness-shire |
| Bill Newport | 33 Ash Grove, S. Ealing, London W 5 |
| Frank Parsons | 27 Meeson Street, Clapton Park, London E 5 |
| Bill G. Putland | 5 Chants Path, Yeovil, Somerset |
| Eddie Ratcliffe | 5, Pickford Street, Mossley, Manchester |
| Charlie Redman | 16 Dunbar Rd., Wood Green, N 22 |
| Len Ridgard | 46 Gopsell Street, Birmingham 4 (32 Ceolshill St.) |
| F. Auther Rock | 27 Mona Street, Douglas, Isle of Man |
| S. Pat Rose | 113 Cotton Lane, Derby |
| Harry R. Spencer | 9 Stainbarn Crescent, Leeds 7 |
| Toc Smith | Primrose Hill Farm, Hemingstone, Nr Ipswich, Suffolk |
| Vic A. H. Snowden | Lorna Doone, 32 Princes St., Peterborough, Northants |
| (Bert) W. A. Taylor | 82 Blenheim Road, Moseley, Birmingham |
| Doug W. Thacker | 59 Bruin Street, Leicester |
| Lionel C. Tout | 7 Chapel Street, Tiverton, Devonshire |
| (Bert?) H. Turner | 184 Sutton Passeys Crescent, Wollaton Park, Nottingham |
| Sammy West | 159 Fazeley St., Bermingham |
| (Taffy) J. M. Williams | c/oTegfryn Taw, Abercrave, Swansea |
| Tiny Yilding | 32 Vincent Cresent, Chesterfield |
For comments or information please send your mail to Robert Cull
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