Cyril Whittaker

2738883 L/Sgt Cyril Whittaker's Photo Album

Re: 2738883 L/Sgt Cyril Whittaker
1ST BATALLION, SUPPORT COMPANY, ANTI TANK PLATOON
WELSH GUARDS
June 1943 to July 1947

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Cyril's daughter Sheila sent me these photographs from her father's album in the hope that one or more of his Welsh Guards mates will contact him to share old memories.

2738883 L/Sgt Cyril Whittaker
Trained at The Guards Depot, Caterham in July 1943

He joined the 1ST BATALLION, SUPPORT COMPANY, ANTI TANK PLATOON as a Despatch Rider, and later, on 20th June 1944, crossed the English channel to join the
Allied Forces on the D-Day beaches at Arromanches.

The Battalion was to experience heavy fighting and many casualties as they pressed forward across France, Belgium and Holland towards the German border. The route from the beaches included Bayeux, Caen, Cagny, and on the 9th August they met and engaged an SS Panzer Division before moving on to Falaise. On 28th August they crossed the Seine and entered Arras on 1st Sept. It was at the Battle of Arras back in 1940 that the Welsh Guards had gained their second Victoria Cross, awarded to Lieutenant The Hon Christopher Furness who was killed in the action. After being the last British unit to leave for the legendary Evacuation of Dunkirk beaches in 1940, here they were again, the first of the Allied troops to enter Arras on their mission to liberate occupied Europe.
The next big advance was from Douai to Brussels, a distance of 93 miles.
Leaving Brussels, the weather and the action changed. The weather became wet and cold and the Germans had regrouped to resist and defend the bridges across the many canals in the area. The Battalion crossed the Albert Canal battling on through Helchteren to Beeringen and Hechtel against very tough Paratroop opposition..pressing onwards to the Waal Bridge at Nijmegen and then over the Meuse to Namur. By this time it had been decided that in view of the heavy casualties the Battalion should return to the UK and other duties.

After a spell in Hawick, Scotland, the Battalion was shipped out to Palestine where they were engaged in peace keeping and internal security duties in Sarafand, Mattula and Haifa. This was an excellent opportunity for Cyril and his mates to visit Jerusalem and Bethlehem before returning to the UK and civilian life in 1947.

Cyril's Special Birthday Treat 2001

Daughter Sheila writes:
    The 22nd.October 2001 was my dad's 78^th birthday, and as he is the bestest dad in the world,
                      I wanted to do something special to show him how much I care. . . . .
     Way back in 1945 he had stood Guard of Honour for King GeorgeV1 at Buckingham Palace, so I wrote to the Queen and told her this, and told her it was his birthday, and as a special treat 'could I bring him back for a visit' ? Not really expecting a reply, I not only received a reply but the answer was 'Yes', and we were to go to Wellington Barracks on Birdcage Walk to be met by a Sergeant of the Welsh Guards who would show us all round the barracks then escort us round to Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of the Guards from inside Buckingham Palace grounds.

Oh Wow, what a surprise and what a day we all had. It was absolutely wonderful.

Peter and I went with him, and I have never seen my dad so erect and so proud. A truly wonderful experience. From there we took him on the London Eye, another wonderful experience, a day none of us will ever forget. Everything was perfect, even the sun shone for him.

Sgt Morgan with Cyril - 2001