DRIVER GILBERT EATON

129th FIELD REGIMENT

Driver Gilbert Eaton	Gilbert Eaton (right) and friend

Below is a letter sent to Mrs Miriam Eaton from her husband Mr Gilbert Eaton (depicted above) who was serving in Burma during 1942.

Miriam Murgatroyd, who lived at Manor House Farm, met Gilbert while he was billeted in Knottingley with the 129th Field Regiment, RA No. 886271. During his time in Knottingley Gilbert served as Batman to Captain Caddy of the same regiment. Captain Caddy stayed at the home of Mrs Hepworth who owned a printing house and a post office at Hill Top, Knottingley. The soldiers were billeted in Chapel Street School Hall, Ropewalk.

Miriam and Gilbert were married in St. Botolph's Church, Knottingley, in 1941. The vicar who performed the wedding service was the Reverend Musgrave.

After leaving Knottingley, the battalion were sent to Strensall and then to Banbury and after that to Burma where they fought against the Japanese.

Above: Miriam and daughter Mary

Driver Gilbert Eaton served in the army for six years and after leaving the services, he and his wife and their three children went to live in Stafford.  Sadly, Gilbert died in 1958 at the age of 42.

Miriam remarried and now lives happily with her husband, her grown up family and grandchildren in Toronto, Canada. Miriam never forgets her happy times in Knottingley and often visits her family and friends in town.

"Some tears we cried when you were gone
But our love for you will always go on"
Miriam and family

The letter sent in 1942 to Miriam from her husband Gilbert.to Mrs.

11 September 1942 886271 Dvr S. G. Eaton
129th Field Regt. RA
India

Dearest Miriam

I have your letter to hand dated June 24th with the good news that Tommy was on leave and is still safe thank heaven. I hope he had a good leave. You can imagine what joy it was to get your first letter after so long an absence. I have not yet received any snapshots of you but I will be sending you one of mine this coming week when I send an airmail letter. I'm glad you are enjoying yourself and hope you can continue to do so and that you will be able to finish early at nights. I hope your Uncle Alf is managing alright and picking up spare labour. We are still happy out here, but our thoughts are always with you at home, hoping that you are keeping well. Darling, I must close now, keep smiling.
From your loving Husband Gilbert. xxxxxx

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