The Wartime Memories Project - The Worcestershire Regiment

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The Worcestershire Regiment was raised in 1694 when Colonel Thomas Farrington, an officer of the Coldstream Guards raised a new regiment in London. My father, Jack Hartley, (Ernest John) was a company runner. He was from Stretford in Manchester and was 19. I think his regiment was the Worcesters. His first action was at Dunkirk where he was wounded badly in the leg by shrapnel. In the confusion his ambulance went to the German lines and he was taken prisoner. He spent some time in hospital where the skill of the German surgeons saved his leg. Then, he was moved into hotels to recuperate, including a large one in Le Touquet. Eventually he spent some time recovering in hotels in Belgium before walking into Poland to Stalag 20 A. He spent the rest of the war there, I believe, as a POW, and often worked in a cheese factory. He was a very good singer and good at football so may have joined in these activities. He was liberated by the Americans and hitchhiked across Europe to the Belgian coast where he experienced his first flight lying in a gunner's cockpit.(He never flew again!) On arrival in Manchester he was shocked to find there were no all night buses! A man took pity on him on hearing where he had come from and got a bus out to take him home!. There he found a beautiful young woman, Grace Reed, from Ryhope, Durham who was billeted with his mother so that she could work in Trafford Park making parts for aeroplanes. He married her 6 weeks later and they were so very happy for 58 years. Sadly they have both recently passed away. My father told us lots of stories about those war years but, unfortunately, did not write them down. If anybody has any information about my father I would be so glad to hear from them. His friend at this time was a man who came from Thorne in Doncaster, I believe. Photographs If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch. List of those who served in The Worcestershire Regiment during WW2. L/Cpl Harold Astbury. 1/7 Royal Warwickshire Regiment Ernest Cameron. 7th Btn. Royal WorcestersRead his Story Bill Clifton. Worcestershire Regiment Read his story Ernest John "Jack" Hartley. company runner. Read his story If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch. If you have a story which you would like to share, or a website dedicated to a soldier or regiment please get in touch. Send an E-mail to Links Allied Forces Index The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation. This website is run out of our own pockets and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Or by cheque to: PO Box 325, Stockton on Tees, TS20 1XL. Website and ALL Material © Copyright MMII - All Rights Reserved