Sgt Bill Tierney MM - Post War Years

[Aled Roberts]

Hi Chris

I got your email ok. Will be back to you asap.

Richard

[cwt1382]

I downloaded the SAR form. It is saying I need a Court Order in order to obtain any information because I do not have my grandfather's written consent. Do I have to obtain this in order to get any information about him?

I also have no way of knowing his date of birth. Does this mean I will not be able to obtain a Death Certificate?

My father was born in Swindon in December 1954. I have his birth certificate. Is there any information I could get from there? It only shows "W.A. Tierney" as my grandfather's name. There is no other information.

I have always been told (by my Aunt and grandmother) that my grandfather escaped from German prison camps twice during WWII and if he could do that, then he could disappear forever if he wanted. I'm hoping this isn't true and there is a trail somewhere!

Chris

[cwt1382]

I found the following on http://www.burmastar.org.uk/searches.htm.

WILLIAM (BILL) TIERNEY sailed on the Sterling Castle from Liverpool 9th Jan '42, arrived in Freetown 22nd Jan.'42. Left Freetown 23rd Jan '42, arrived Duban SA 10th March '42. Stayed Clarwood Camp 4 days. Sailed on The Empire Woodlark to Bombay,from Bombay to Poona, stayed 4 weeks. Arrived Dimapur June 5th '42. Does anyone know what Regiment this would have been?. He then joined the 14th Army. Left Rangoon Nov. 26th 1945. He never spoke of his experiences, I am try to find as much information as I can. Thank You.
Jim Tierney (son)

Any chances he could be speaking of my grandfather? Unfortunately, he (Jim) did not put an email address to contact him.

[ap1]

Unless Richard can confirm otherwise, the medal group you have does not suggest India Service. Try emailing The Cheshire Regiment HQ's which was at Chester. Their Comrades Association may have knowledge of him

[ap1]

I also have no way of knowing his date of birth. Does this mean I will not be able to obtain a Death Certificate?

We have a supporter of the site at the RWF Museum. I have passed on the details, in the hope that they can locate his Date of Birth.

[cwt1382]

Thank you! I am also going to do some research with the Cheshire Regiment as you suggested. I have separated all of my grandfather's RWF pictures and will scan them no later than this weekend. I will send them to you as soon as I get the chance.

Chris

[ap1]

Hi Chris,

Some good news:

I have been in touch with Lt Colonel Richard Sinnett RWF. Like Don Donovan he served with your grandfather, and remembers him well.

More importantly he has the citation for Bill's Military Medal. It appears to be a fascinating story, he made 10 escape attempts, the tenth being successful. He also has the transcripts of the interviews conducted with Bill and MI9 on his return to the UK(every escaper was interviewed).

I am still in the process of identifying Bill's birthdate to see if we can locate a death certificate, assuming he has died.

Col Sinnett would like to make contact with you and pass on these documents, I have passed your email address to him, and he will be in touch. It appears that your grandfather was an extremely determined individual.

Keep us all updated.

Good Luck

[cwt1382]

That is excellent news. I knew that my grandfather had successfully escaped but it will be interesting to read the documentation because I have never heard the entire story.

I emailed the Cheshire museum and they put me in touch with someone who sent me the forms to get my grandfather's service record. I have printed out the forms and will have my father fill them out, as only the next of kin can request the documentation. I also apologize for not getting the pictures to you yet. I will scan them as soon as possible and email them. Thanks again for everything and as always, if you find out more information, please let me know. I will be looking forward to hearing from Col Sinnett.

Chris

[ap1]

Chris has been kind enough to send me some family photos. which I include within the thread as they put faces to all the detail we have covered. The photo below shows Bill and his first wife Margaret, who with their 2 children were on that fateful skyways flight in 1953 that crashed off Newfoundland. No bodies were ever recovered.

[ap1]

In this picture Cpl Bill Tierney MM can be seen in the left of the frame. Families can be seen in the background boarding a Skyways flight. Bill's family departed on the next plane after this one left. A cut down version of this picture appeared in Regimental Records 1946-1969