- Contributed byÌý
- kirriemuir_library
- People in story:Ìý
- Mrs Lillias Smith and her brother Edward Weighton
- Location of story:Ìý
- North Africa/ Italy
- Background to story:Ìý
- Army
- Article ID:Ìý
- A2822519
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 09 July 2004
Name
Date June 2004
Wartime memories as told to David G. Orr.
Lillias had a known as ‘Ted’ to distinguish him from his father (son of Mr & Mrs Edward Weighton who was a driver (14219017) with the 255 field company of the Royal Engineers. He is buried in Bari war cemetery (Italy) Grave reference XI. F. 13.
See Debt of Honour Register at www.cwgc.org.uk/commemoration
Ted died in Taranto hospital on 17 December 1945 after hostilities had ended of Polio on his way home.
His brother Dave worked on the family farm with his father but Ted had worked as a butcher with Hay the Butcher in Kirriemuir.
Ted was called up aged 19
The family received a telegram to say that Ted was on his way home, but he never arrived and the family received a second telegram to say the Ted had diedIt is ironic the he should have survived the whole of the war and died on his way home. He had been a POW in North Africa and was awarded the Africa Star medal. He was released when the 8th Army came from the East and the Germans retreated.
The family have photos of his grave and visited the grave in 1992.
She remembers the family’s grieving at her brother’s death (her father took to his bed for a fortnight – ignoring the farm work) and the family of course received no counselling. All the grief was contained in the family home.
© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo