Buried Battles & Veterans' Voices
Belonging to the Regiment
Demobilisation at the end of the Second World War or national service was often a rather low key affair, frequently accompanied by much bureaucracy and the issue of strange new clothes. The discharged soldier had then to reconstruct his life, reconnect with his family and attempt to put the experiences and close comradeship of his service with the regiment behind him. However a soldier had come to join the regiment, whether by accident or design, it was almost certainly the case that he would have forged incredibly strong ties with his companions and would develop great pride in the unit to which he belonged. Soldiers who served through World War II had shared extraordinary and often terrible experiences which people at home could not hope to fully comprehend. Such ties might bind men together for life and the Regimental Association allowed them to keep in touch, celebrate their service and remember those who had been lost.
Soldiers at Stoughton Barracks, Guildford, the Depot of the
Queen's Royal (West Surrey) Regiment, share a drink.
(Click to enlarge)
Private Stan Blay Stan Blay, 2/6th and 2/7th Battalions, the Queen's Royal Regiment recalls a rather low key end to six years service in World War II. |
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Private Cyril Dwight Cyril Dwight, 1st Battalion, the Queen's Royal Regiment, and The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment remembers flying for the first time and eating goldfish on his way home from the East. |
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Regimental Sergeant Major H 'Tommy' Atkins 'Tommy' Atkins, 2nd Battalion, the Queen's Royal Regiment, remembers the comradeship of life in the army. |
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Sergeant Jim Jeffery Jim Jeffery, 2/5th Battalion, the Queen's Royal Regiment, remembers his old commanding officer. |
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Sergeant Sidney Barker Sidney Barker, 2nd Battalion, the Queen's Royal Regiment, wears his pride in the regiment on his arm. |
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Major Toby Taylor Toby Taylor, 1st Battalion, the East Surrey Regiment, recalls the loss of friends and companions. |
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Private George Crook George Crook, 1st Battalion, the East Surrey Regiment, advocates the reintroduction of national service. |
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Band Sergeant Major Brian Matlock Brian Matlock, 1st Battalion, the Queen's Royal Regiment, laments the erosion of military traditions and values by government cutbacks. |
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