Originally from Bow, London, 20 year old William John Whiter, known to his friends as Bill, joined The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) on March 12th 1928. In civilian life Bill, like his father before him, had been a carter, delivering beer in the East End of London from a horse and cart.
A bright young man, Bill gained his 3rd Class Education Certificate on June 6th 1928 while still serving with the Regimental Depot in Hamilton.
By November 1930, Bill had been posted to the 1st Battalion, then serving in Moascar on the Suez Canal, and was appointed Lance Corporal.
A keen sportsman, Bill was to make a name for himself in the Regiment as a skilled amateur boxer. In December 1931 he was runner-up in the Regimental Novices Boxing Competition. In 1933, while the 1st Battalion was in India, William was part of the successful boxing team who beat the 11th Hussars in the Brigade Boxing Tournament, winning by eleven matches to four. This team went on to further success, qualifying to fight in the Rawalpindi Army Team Championships.
Bill was also a member of his Company Cross-Country Running Team, and also represented his Company in Battalion Hockey matches.
Despite his prowess in the boxing ring, Bill had a gentle nature, and was extremely fond of animals, especially horses and ponies. While serving in India, he won a 1st Prize at the Lucknow Horse Show for his turnout of the Battalion pack mules.
Bill was discharged to the Reserves in February 1936, having enlisted to serve seven years with the Colours, and five on the Reserve. On September 5th of that year, Bill was recalled to the Colours and mobilised for active service with the 2nd Battalion in Palestine. The Battalion sailed for Palestine in late September in fine style; on board the P&O Liner SS Naldera. The men were berthed in First and Second Class cabins and messed in the First Class dining room – a far cry from the fare they had expected on a ship taking them on active service. Bill spent two months with the Battalion in Palestine, after which he returned to the UK on the SS Tuscania and was discharged to the Reserve on December 1st 1936.
Less than three years were to pass before Bill was in the uniform of the Cameronians once more. Britain declared war on Germany on September 3rd 1939. At this time, Bill would still have been on the Army Reserve. Details of Bill’s service in the Second World War are not yet clear, although he is listed in the Regimental Casualty lists printed in September 1940 as being wounded. Given the early date of this casualty list, it is quite likely that Bill was wounded while serving with the 2nd Battalion in France. It was to be five more years before Bill was released from active service, and placed once more on the reserve list in December 1945.
In June 1974, Bill attended the London Branch, Regimental Association Annual Reunion Dinner where he was able to catch up with over 140 of his old comrades from the Regiment.
Bill married a widow, Janet, and brought up her daughter as his own. They lived in Bow until his death in 1978. He had two grandchildren, Stewart Bailey and Jenny Bailey, both born in Bow.
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Bill with his granddaughter Jenny, 1961 |
