Irish Guards: Medal Rolls, General Service Medal, Palestine Clasp 1945 - 1948 Army Number: 2723379 Rank: Serjeant Name: W PURDON Unit: 1 Irish Guards GSM & Clasp: GSM, Palestine Clasp 1945 - 1948 TNA Reference: WO 100/526 Notes:
2723379 W J PURDON, 1 Irish Guards Wounded, 4 February 1944 1 Irish Guards, Casualty Lists War Diary: 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS, September 1939 - July 1944
William James “Bill” Purdon, born Belfast on 13th April 1923. Volunteered to join the Irish Guards on 9th June 1942.
Thanks for that additional info. I'll edit the title and the nominal roll. My father was a year younger, also from Belfast, passed out in 1943, served with 3rd Battalion which later included many 1st bn veterans. He was also William but known by his middle name.
This was my Uncle Bill and my Dad has several group photos that I will also share. However Only two are squad photos with names.
If you would share the photos, the squad ones in particular, that'd be very helpful. Other family researchers are often on the look-out for photos, their own having been lost over the years. Good contacts can also be made this way with folks who can also supply info in return - a matter of checking in periodically for replies.
Cpl. E. Townson’s Squad, Irish Guards. Sept. 1942 Gdsn. J. GUIRY, R. SPERRY, J. CONNOLLY, E. BAMFORD, P. JOYCE Gdsn. C. NASH, I. LACE, J. KEYS, G. ANDREWS, W. PURDON, J. FINNEGAN, A. WARKE, J. CLIFFORD Gdsn. M. GOODE, R. CLIFFORD, B. DENNEHY, CPL. E. TOWNSON (Squad Inst,), Gdsn. J. LINES, T. MATHER, P. DAVERN
Cpl. W. Purdon’s Squad, Irish Guards. Dec. 1944 Gdsn. P. THOMPSON, A. FIRTH, P. GATES, J. BROWN, W. TARBUCK, N. TASKER, L. KEMISH Gdsn. A. TOMS, D. ADSHEAD, T. MONAHAN, J. GOODA, Corporal E. DEAN (P.T. Instr.), Gdsn. A. TOWNSEND, P. BROWN, J. MULHALL, M. WARD Gdsn. K. SMITH, D. WALLWORK, CPL. W. PURDON (Squad Instr.), Sgt. A. WIGGAN (Supt. Sgt.), Gdsn. W. HANLEY, G. HARWOOD Td. S. ??? [Trained Soldier]
Thanks very much Mark for sharing these squad photos. I've edited in the names so that they can show up in any internet searches. The 2nd squad photo, with your uncle as Instructor - is there another name missing off the bottom?
Officers and Sergeants. No. 1 Company. 1st BN. Irish Guards. Warminster. 1945 Back Row: L/Sgt. PURDON, W., L/Sgt. PHILLIPS, V., L/Sgt. HARRIS, E., L/Sgt. CRUMP, P., L/Sgt. HODGKISS, J., L/Sgt. DAVIES, W., Sgt. TOWNSON, E. Front Row: Sgt. MURPHY, R., MM., C.S.M. CAWOOD, M., Lt. J.R.A. MacMULLEN, M.C., Capt. J.V.D. TAYLOR, M.C., Lt. G. GORDON-SHEE, Lt. R.J. BOBBETT, C.Q.M.S. THOMAS, G.
