Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Colour Sergeant

Army Number : 4860761

Unit : 1st Bn

Biography :

William Irwin enlisted on 15.1.1940. Later, as a Sergeant he was awarded the Military Medal for his actions as a Platoon Sergeant, 1st Leicesters, Merxplas, Belgium, on 29.9.1944 (L.G. 1.3.1945). Later hebecame Quartermaster Sergeant. He was demobbed in 1946.

'William Irwin was a sergeant with the Leicester Tigers and fought his way from Aramanches beach in France to Germany, taking almost one year. He became platoon commander very soon in his war due to continual losses,he was awarded the military medal.He later wrote the whole chronicle of his platoon's exploits.'

Some information from a private source.

Further Info: His near-contemporaneous account was published by his son in 2006, "Accounts at Platoon Level - A Glimpse of War" - available from Leicestershire libraries.

Date of Birth : 19.2.1918

Place of Birth : South Shields, County Durham

Place of Death : Sapcote, Leicestershire

Civil Occupation : coach painter/foreman

Period of Service : 1940-46

Conflicts : WW2

Places Served : England, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany