Harry Middleton 3526743

[Emrogers]

Hi,
I'm trying to find information on my Great Uncle Harry Middleton, so far I know he was in the 1st Bn Manchester Regiment, that he was taken prisoner in Singapore February 1942 and was later transported to the Taiwain POW. After his release and return to the UK we have very little information on what happened to him. I wondered if anyone had any info at all or if there are any documents that reference him, official or anecdotal?
Thanks in advance
Emma

[george.theshed197]

He came back to the 1st Bn. in Wuppertal or Berlin 1950 he was a friend, if I remember rightly he was in Support company whilst I was in B. When we moved from Berlin and went out to Malaya we then were located in different locations so soon basically lost contact. On completion of my tour I went back to the Depot for a while then moved to Harrington Barracks to prepare for the return of the Bn to UK. I cannot for the life of me remember whether or not Harry came back  to Berlin 1954 with us because then I was transferred to HQ as Barrack Accommodation and Married Quarters became my responsibility.
Cheers,
George

[Emrogers]

Dear George,
Thank you so much for replying, its so lovely to hear from someone who knew him. I think I've found a picture of him on here (taken with the Queen Mother) but I'm just going from the names along the bottom, it says he was a Sergeant but I thought he was a Lance Corporal?
If I find any further information on him I'll continue to share on here
Best wishes
Emma 

[artyhughes]

I was in Support company during our tour of duty in Malaya,I remember Harry Middleton as a sergeant in the MMG platoon along with George Rawlinson,I cannot recall what happened to him,but I do remember having a tiger or two in the Corporals mess prior to his promotion,I also believe that Harry Middleton was with the battalion in Berlin prior to our tour of duty in Malaya,unfortunately personnel kept moving about inter company postings,Python leave I think Harry fell into that category and so disappeared from view.Harry was a great NCO a master of the vickers MG and a person I am honoured to have known

[Emrogers]

Dear Artyhughes,
It's amazing to hear stories like this about Harry, even though I never met him I'm so proud of him and learning about his life in the Army is fascinating. Thank you so much for replying, it's helping to fill a massive hole in my family history.
Best wishes
Emma

[george.theshed197]

Hi again Emma,
After I had answered your letter yesterday I did some further thinking and seeing Roy's letter this morning I also suddenly remembered him also at that celebration on his promotion in the Cpl's Mess. As Roy stated the way in which the Bn was moved  around in Malaya kept us all on the hop in so far as who was who and where!!
At least you are in a slightly better position in having some information now that you didn't know about from some of his friend's of the post war years.
In actual fact - many of those unfortunate enough to have been POW's of the Japs came back to the Bn after their 'recuperation' - Charlie Marshall, Ted Widdowson, Major 'Herbie' O'Brien and many more to mention just a few - all great characters and, as Roy said earlier. our pleasure to have served with them and known them as friends.
May they all Rest in Peace.
George.

[Emrogers]

Hi George,
Thank you! Yes I'm starting to pull together some really good information on him and getting a great picture of him in my mind.  I think my next investigation will be into when he left the Manchester Regiment, and see where that leads. I do really appreciate you taking the time in replying

Thanks again
Emma

[rafboy]

Hi Emma
Have a look at:  http://www.powtaiwan.org/
My father was there as well, they would have been in Heito POW Camp at the same time.  At that time my father was 3525679 Cpl Arthur Phillips, he also stayed in the army, was in Germany then transferred to the Pay Corps and went to Malaya with the Battalion, I went with him.
Also see the attached list of all the 1st Bn Manchester Regiment men who were in Taiwan (Formosa).

I am going to Taiwan in November, Michael Hurst MBE who runs the POW web site is a Canadian living in Taiwan and holds Remembrance reunions every year.

I have a couple of photos of groups of POW's taken in Singapore (He may be in one of them) which I can send you high resolution copies of direct.  PM me with your email address and I will send them to you.

Cliff

[Emrogers]

Hi Cliff,

Thank you so much for your message, I have sent a PM to you with my email address and would be so grateful for any photos that may have Harry in them.

Everyone's being so generous with their memories and information

Thank you again
Best wishes
Emma

[Robert Bonner]

Emma.
I can only really confirm what George and Roy have already posted. I knew  your Great-Uncle over a number of years and he was a really fine member of the Regiment and the British Army.  There are three photographs of him in the most recent regimental publication -The Manchester Regiment 1st Battalion 1945 - 1958.

Two of them are group photographs, one of which you already have and was taken at Brentwood in 1958; the second is of the Sergeants  at Minden in 1956.  The third is the most interesting and shows the battalion machine-gun platoon in 1957 of which Harry was the platoon sergeant. They had just taken part in the Army Championships and had won the Fire Control cup, the Machine-Gun cup and the Machine-Gun Corps cup.  He must have been very proud of that.  You should be proud of him yourself.
Best wishes.

[Emrogers]

Dear Robert,
Thank you so much, I am indeed very proud of him and the more I learn about him the more I wish I had known him. I will have a look at the publication you've mentioned as I'd love to get more pictures of him.
Thank you again for taking the time to reply it really means a lot.
Best wishes
Emma

[mack]

hiya emma.
can you check his army number,i have him down as 3526713 harry middleton not 3526714,he was in palestine from 14th january 1938 till 28th september 1938
general service medal with palestine clasp

mack

[Emrogers]

Hi Mack,
Michael Hurst supplied me with his army number of 3526743, but I suppose it could easily have been 13 at the end. Apart from asking Michael to have another look at the records he has unfortunately I don't know where else I could check this as I have very little information on Harry.

Thanks
Emma

[themonsstar]

Here is the medal roll

[Emrogers]

Thank you, I'll update my info with his new number

Emma