Lance Corporal Lawrence Williamson, known as Lorry (or Laurie) to his friends and family, served in the Royal Signals Corps from the 23rd of October 1939, until the 29th of April 1946, eventually rising to the rank of Corporal, though he was later demoted for unknown reasons, though he said that it wasn't his fault. He didn't see very much direct frontline combat, coming into France weeks after the D-day landings. His job was operating a radio, as well as truck driving, which is where his nickname is derived, as well as a play on the pronunciation of his actual name. After the war, he brought back many items and photographs, which may seem mundane to some, but are incredible for finding out the true life of a soldier when the majority of information about the war is the general movements of whole armies. He would very often talk about the war, to the point that he would end up telling the same stories several times over. "I reckon he enjoyed his time in the war", my grandmother said about Laurie. Read more

Craftsman Leslie Williamson was the only brother of Laurie's serving in the war, the rest being too young to serve. Leslie was tragically killed on the 19th of March 1943 during the Tunisia Campaign, just under 2 months before the campaign ended on the 13th of May 1943. He was a member of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) with the rank of Craftsman, equivalent to Private. I do not know as much about Leslie as I do Laurie, but I hope to find more as I research my family's past. Read more

Private Reginald Percy Tyrer served in the 10th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment through much of the war, his captain was Richard Todd OBE. As this battalion was part of the Territorial Army, he did not leave the country to fight, until around 1943, when Richard Todd was engaging in Operation Tonga. It is unknown whether it was voluntary, or if specific soldiers were picked out, but Reginald joined the 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire regiment (2nd Oxf. & Bucks). On the 5th of June 1944, the Oxf. & Bucks had a glider-borne assault on the Caen Canal, and Orne River bridges (now known as Pegasus and Horsa respectively). Read more

Sergeant John Aubrey Parkinson served in the Royal Air Force during the war, I am currently in the process of finding out exact what he did, and I am hoping to find this out as I continue researching. He worked with radar, and other electronics in the RAF. Read more

Lieutenant Colonel Joan Howe ARRC served with the Queen Alexanders Nursing Corps, she was John Aubrey Parkinson's cousin. In 1955 she was placed on the honours list to receive the Royal Red Cross for her services in the nursing corps in training both British and West African Orderlies. Before this, she was awarded the Associate Royal Red Cross (ARRC) in 1948. Read more