Commanders and NCOs
Captain Fisher – in charge of section June 1944
Captain Randall- in charge of unit May 1944-June 1945
Colonel Hudson – A gambling man from the Royal Engineers DD survey
General Nicholls – The Senior officer in charge
General Wemies – Commander of the Corp
Major Betts – Officer in charge of Dad’s company November 1943
Major Willett – A member of the General staff
Sergeant Eyres
Sergeant Gordon
Sergeant Avins
John Craigen
Husband of my Mum’s Cousin Moyra.
Arthur Dirkin
My Mum’s Cousin, one of his best friends at school and later his best-man. He was in the R.A.F. during the war service number 1135927.
Denis Hankinson
A school friend, together with Dirk they went on holidays and were known as “the three musketeers”. He was a sergeant in the R.A.F. during the war service number 1304034.
Fellow signalmen
Andy (possibly a nickname for Arnold)
Arnold Andrews
Bert Stringer did basic training with Dad at Rudloe.
Chalky
Colin
Dave
Dicky
Dusty
Eddie
Ernie
Frank Gavens or Haigh
Freddie Lee
Geoff
Ian
Jack
Jock
Joe Haughton
Johnny Lewis
Ken
Len Lacey
Lloyd
Loff, Lofty
Midge
Mr Wells
Norman Ebel
Phil
Pop
Ray
Red
Robi (also Robbie and Roby)
Ron C Harris – service number 2349250
Russell
Signalman Badcock
Stan
Syd
The Professor
Tom
Tony
Vic
Vin
Wally (possibly Walt)
Walt Moon
Polish Signalmen
Eugene
Eugene Piccolo – possibly shorter pole called Eugene attached to eighth Army Signals
George – The first pole assigned to my Dad’s company in Eighth Army Signals. He seems to have been quite a character able to obtain any goods and delighted in cooking.
Roman Fostiak
Joan Robinson
Chas’ girlfriend.
Arthur Roworth
My Father’s younger brother. He had his right arm amputated to just below the elbow after an industrial accident during the war (see 18th November, 1944)
Lewis Roworth
My paternal Grandfather referred to in the diary as “Dad”.
Mary Ethel Roworth nee Swift
My paternal Grandmother referred to in the diary as “Mam”. She was also known as May.
Charles Tripe
Dad must have met him in training as he is one of the ones shown in the drawing of the autograph book in Rudloe. This is a photograph taken of the two of them and sent to my Mum and Joan, Chas’ fiancee. It appears from a letter Chas asked Dad to be his best man. He lived in Budleigh Salterton and we met the family when on holiday n the exeter area on a few occasions. He took Joan’s surname, Robinson, as his daughter was being teased at school.
This is a photo of Chas and Lewis sent to my Mum and Joan during the war.
Betty Wakefield
My Mum. They were married in 1946 after the war. They were happily married for over 50 years until my Dad’s death. They had three children my brother Graham in 1947, my sister Elizabeth in 1950 and me in 1959. She was in the A.T.S. (Auxillary Territorial Service) based in Bramley near Reading.
Margaret Wakefield
My maternal Grandmother also referred to as Aunty Mag.
Olive Wakefield
My Mum’s Cousin