Sister Audrey writes:

"Dear Sir - Vivian was my half-brother, and l0 years my senior.  As a little girl, he was my idol - I just remember how good he was to me.  He joined the boys band of the lst Bn., West Yorkshire Regt. (Prince of Wales's Own).  He died age 24 on 07 March l942 and his name is now on the Rangoon Memorial.
 

He went to India in l937 (?) - I seem to remember him sending me little gifts, like army buttons, a little bracelet from the market from Barrackpore near to Calcutta, and I have the last Christmas card he sent me 'from your loving brother, Viv' and it shows the Proclamations Parade, Secunderabad, l938. 

He was only l7 or l8 when he went for 6 years, with a 6 month leave after 4 l/2 years, another l l/2 years back in India and then his plan was to enter Kneller Hall to become an army bandmaster.  He was the Band Sergeant when he died.  The last letter I remember seeing from him said that he felt badly when 'our boys were fighting and his regiment was in India to keep the natives from rising'.  The next thing I heard when I came home from boarding school for the Easter holidays in l942 and my father told me that Vivian was in Burma.  I had no idea!  Later that year, another relative said 'it's too bad about Vivian' and then realised that I didn't know!  The traumatic shock of it has lasted with me to this day. 

I was told to contact the War Office to apply for Vivian' medals, and after a considerable waiting period, they were sent to me, one of them being the Burma Star.  I wanted desperately to be able to find some one who might just have some kind of information, other than I could find out from the War Office - which was really limited to just the facts of his war service and memorial in Rangoon.  Also, because I purchased a display cabinet for the medals, his photographs, the silver serviette ring of his that I have treasured - I don't have much - I wanted to have some the the badges, the buttons and whatever else I could buy.
 

Vivian would now be 88 years old, and I am fully aware that most people in his age group are no longer with us - but is there any way you can find out anything - anything at all?  Also could you let me know how to acquire the insignia that he might have worn on his uniform.  To hand this down to my son and his children would be wonderful. 

Looking forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience, - sincerely, Audrey Bradbury - email audrey.bradbury@sympatico.ca   -  home address: 230 Grove Street E., Barrie, Ontario, L4M2P9.