RALPH HEATON - Chindit

Seeking information about Ralph Heaton (Malaya, WWII)

I am seeking any information regarding my relative, Ralph Heaton, who served in Malaya in WWII.

Ralph was born in Widnes, Lancashire (now Cheshire) in England on 12 August 1925, and was conscripted into the army in probably April 1944 when he was 17yrs and 8mths. Initially he served with the South Nottinghamshire Hussars and was sent to France shortly after D Day, where he received shrapnel wounds soon after the battle of Caen. He was hospitalised in Newark-on-trent and then took short leave.

We think after that he must have changed units before heading off to the Far East, which must have been sometime in late 1944. We don't know much beyond the fact that he served in Malaya doing jungle warfare; he mentioned going through the jungle in pairs, one with a rifle (though they were not meant to use them if they could help it) and one with a radio. We know that he was in Ipoh at some stage, because he had his photograph taken with some local children there. He mentioned both Wingate and Slim to my grandad, his brother, but didn't give a context. We have no idea who he served with (I have written to the Army personnel centre to try and obtain his service records). We also have a photo of him wearing what looks like an Australian Army slouch hat, which we believe was taken in Malaya. He was awarded the Burma star and the 1939-1945 star and at least one other medal, though we're not sure if he or his family claimed all of the medals he was entitled to.
Ralph left the army and returned home to England in probably 1948. He rarely talked about his war service, hence our patchy details!

Any information anyone has regarding Ralph would be most gratefully received.

Thanks very much,

Kate Darnell
liverpoolgirl81@hotmail.com