| Surname: | Aylett |
| Initials: | H W |
| Rank: | Private |
| Army Number: | 1006049 |
| Notes: | CMP. Previously enlisted 14/2/11 in the RH & RFA, discharged 21/5/19, No. 64705. He was awarded the 1914 Star, Victory and War Medals. Served Home 14/2/11 to 9/9/14, BEF 10/9/14 to 22/4/19, Home 23/4/19 to 13/2/23. Served Home 1/11/38 re-enlisted in the Royal Engineers, 27 AA Bn. 26/5/40 transferred to 9 HD East Surrey Regt., 10/1/1941 transferred to CMP. TC. 14/9/45 to discharge. Info from Army Record:- Born 27/11/92 at Upper Brents, Kent, Enlisted 1/11/38 at Mitcham Lane, Discharged 14/9/45, Married Ruth Marian Gunn, 3/5/20 at St. Mary's Church, Balham, London, Occupation London LCC Park Keeper, Residence London. Served 10/1/45 3 Coy TC, 7/8/43 507 IMPC, 17/6/43 to 507 Pro Coy, 16/12/43 to 504 Pro Coy, 10/6/45 to Y (E) List. Served Home 1/11/38 to 12/8/39, Embodied 13/8/39 to 8/11/42, North Africa 9/11/42 to 16/6/43, MEF 17/6/43 to 10/6/45, Home 11/6/45 to 13/9/45, Z (T) Reserve 14/9/45. Discharge Certificate:- trade on enlistment Park Keeper, Conduct Good, Testimonial:- This NCO in his period of service with this unit has discharged his duties most capably and conscientiously. Signed OC 504 Pro Coy, 18 Area, MEF, 21/5/45. 23/11/49 He was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star with 1 army clasp, Defence Medal, War Medal. Efficiency Medal Territorial, AO 91/46. Henry William Aylett. Extract from Newspaper. IN THE MIDDLE WAST 51 YEAR OLD VETERAN. Among the troops still serving in the Middle East is Lance Corporal H William Aylett, whose wife and children live at 35 Cavendish Road, Clapham Common. He jointed the army as a Territorial in November 1938 and arrived overseas in the Middle East in November, 1942. " I wangled my way into the army at the age of 44 because I wanted to be of use." he told a military observer who interviewed him recently. "I thought I could be useful England, as I was too old to be sent abroad. I volunteered for the searchlights and worked with them in Buckinghamshire. I was in the East Surreys, but ended up being transferred to the traffic wing of the Corps of Military Police in June 1940. In case of invasion we were to control traffic and keep the roads clear if that problem occurred." Arriving at the age of 48 with the invasion forces in November 1942, he served with the CMP's during the North African campaign and then on down to Tobruk with a Mobile Provost Company, after that campaign has finished. "I'll never forget Tunisia." he said "There were thousands of prisoners, and they were coming back on their own. They had their own officers and convoys, and went to the rear under their own steam. I have never seen such a sight ever." After returning to Egypt his old company was sent on to India, and he was posted to his present location, where he carries on with this traffic control duties at an isolated Corps of Military Police post in the Suez Canal Zone. |