Trafford

Born on the 30th November 1910, the birth being registered during the March
quarter 1911 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/169, the son of ?????

Attended St. Joseph's School.   Employed as a plasterer for a Chorlton firm
(H. Matthews & Son, Ardwick ???).

Married Esther A. Cummins during the September quarter 1936 in the Bucklow
R.D. - ref: 8a/736.

1939 National Registration - "Willoughby", 10 Marlborough Road, Sale.   
William Royle - born on the 30th November 1910 - Married - occ: Plasterer. 
 Esther Royle - born on the 6th April 1915 - Married - occ: Unpaid Domestic
Duties.   There are two redacted records at this address.

His brother Norman, who was also serving, also worked as a plasterer for
the same firm.    He had two young children, but one died whilst he was
serving abroad.

He joined the Army in 1939 and was escaped from Dunkirk in May 1940.   Went
to India in 1941 and served with Wingate's Chindits on the Indian
Frontier.

The 13/08/1943 edition of the local newspaper reports him as being missing
in that theatre of war and that his wife was at 13 Russell St, Salford,
later at 48 Poplar Grove, Sale.

He and others were crossing the Irrawaddy River in a boat that was hit by
shell fire and lost.

Also reported in the 21/12/1945 edition of the Sale & Stretford Guardian.

From Wikipedia & the King's Regiment websites.   The 13th King's sailed for
India in December 1941, coinciding with Japan's entrance into the war.
Intended for garrison duties, the 13th's strength contained many men
categorised as old or of a medically downgraded condition.   After Japan
occupied Burma in 1942, the Allies formed a unit intended to penetrate deep
behind Japanese lines from India.  The 13th King's provided the majority of
the British contingent for the "Chindits", which was formally designated as
the 77th Indian Infantry Brigade and commanded by Order Wingate.
 
Organised into two groups, the Chindits first operation (codenamed
Longcloth) began from Imphal on the 8th February 1943.  No. 2 Group,
commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel S.A. Cooke, was formed from the 13th King's
and divided into five independent columns, two of which (Nos 7 and 8) were
commanded by majors from the Battalion.   No Japanese opposition Initially
the columns met no opposition but soon some of the units were sighted by
the Japanese, who initially believed them to be small groups gathering
intelligence, allowing the Chindits to cross the Chindwin River and advance
into Burma unimpeded.

Not until there had been a number of engagements with Japanese outposts and
patrols and the demolition of railway bridges did the Japanese realise the
force was of brigade strength    The Chindits were beginning to hurt the
enemy.   The Japanese had been caught by surprise and were confused, not
knowing the intention of the Chindits or how they were supplied.   Three
regiments, each of three battalions, were sent to the area to locate and
destroy the invaders. The Chindits were now being hunted.

Of the 3,000 officers and men that went into Burma only 2,182 came back
four months later having covered between 1,000 and 1,500 miles deep into
enemy held territory.  They were in poor condition, suffering from tropical
diseases and malnutrition but in high spirits and proud of their
achievements.   Of those that returned only about 600 were passed fit for
further active service.   The Chindits had entered north Burma, caused
damage to railway, inflicted casualties to the enemy and returned.   They
had shown that it was possible to infiltrate and operate in difficult
jungle terrain deep in enemy held territory.

His widow married Harold Green in 1947.