2/7 Middlesex Regiment Anzio

Great work all round. Well done.

Rich

 

Here is some more info re: Cpl Thomas Joseph Ling,that i found after reading again the massive book that i mentioned in my post 24.

Thomas ling was born on the 17th October 1911 in Edmonton, London. He had one sister & four brothers, three of whom served in the army. Tragically, when he was only a small boy, his parents both died within a short time of each other, & he and his brothers were brought up by the eldest sibling, sister Dolly. Further tragedy had to be endured when his brother John was killed in the latter part of the First World War.

Eventually, the family moved to the Holloway Road area of London. Thomas enlisted on 1st May 1930. He served in Singapore, Ceylon & Egypt before returning to England & finally leaving the army in early 1938, whereupon he was put on the reserve list He became a postman, & it was in this period immediately after leaving the army that he meet the woman who was to become his wife, Daisy Clifft (born 1914).

He became a postman, although his records state he was a labourer when he was called up on the 1st September 39. He joined the Middlesex Regiment. When war broke out two days later, he decided to propose to Daisy. She wasn't sure at first, & her family advised against marriage in the uncertainty of war. But Thomas was keen to have someone to write home to during his service abroad. He managed to persuade his sweetheart & they were married at a registry office in London on 23rd September 39. He was later sent to France with the 2nd Battalion the Middlesex Regiment of which ( i must check the war diaries that i have!)

He was evacuated from Dunkirk along with many thousands of other British soldiers in May-June 1940. A few months later he was stationed in the south-west, & on one of Daisy's visits, their child was conceived at South Cerney, near Swindon. At the end of 1940 he was stationed at Taunton, Somerset. Daisy, left London within a day or two, ( not even serving out her notice at work), but just getting the train to Taunton. John Ling was born on the 12th May 1941.

When I've sent this information to that chap called Richard, AKA Tricky Dicky then I think he may well be able to contact some members of the Ling Family. He has provided me with some family trees a while back.

Janet, did inform a while back that Cpl Ling should be on the Brookwood War Memorial instead of panel 9.

Regards,
Stu.

 

My Father was in 2/7 Middlesex at Anzio also wounded but thankfully survived . I recently found a copy of a poem by Ben Borley of 2/7 does anyone know if he still has family alive today ?

 

Pte Peter Hickman, 6213319, 2nd/7th Battalion The Middlesex Regiment, was one of those taken POW at Anzio on 4/2/44. There are some photographs and documents on this site.

Pte Peter Hickman POW 279140