Remembering 'Uncle Billy' - the South Shields hero who died fighting in Burma just months before the Second World War ended

And as the world commemorates VJ Day, Irene Gelston, now 83, from Westoe, has special reason to remember.

She paid tribute to her own brother George William Puttock who was a soldier with the 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment when he gave his life in Burma.

She said: “I will always remember him. He was a lovely big brother.”

She still has fond memories of the soldier who, once on leave, sat and had Sunday dinner with her – and one moment when there was panic when he accidentally spilled rice pudding on his uniform.

They are precious memories of someone who Irene is very proud of. She was only three when her brother left to serve his country and it was just five years later when he died.

He was killed in action on March 3, 1945 whilst fighting in Meiktila, Burma. And when the telegram arrived in South Shields, Irene still remembers that fateful day.

"I was eight and I remember coming home from school,” she said. “Billy’s wife had got the telegram to say he had died. Mam was crying and the atmosphere was pretty black.

"They sent me out to play and I remember telling my friends that my brother had died. I didn’t remember much about it all but I do remember that I was proud of my brother who was helping us to win the war.”

Irene is a mother-of-two herself and was a cashier bookkeeper at the Co-op in her younger days.

She feels it is important for people to remember VJ Day in just as important a way as they remember VE Day.

"I remember the celebrations of VE Day but I don’t remember anything like it for VJ Day.

"But we have always remembered Billy.”

Another relative, Alison Brown, was going to remember her ‘Uncle Billy’ by travelling to the Far East for the official celebrations which were originally planned there – until the coronavirus put paid to her plans.

She said: “George was my father's older brother and was one of eleven children.

“My husband and I had often talked about visiting George's grave in Burma and last year we decided to incorporate a visit to where he is buried, with our holiday to Thailand. We had already booked our visit when I realised it was the 75th anniversary of VJ Day and we would be in the country for the commemoration.”

The pandemic forced the cancellation of the plans and, instead, Alison will be part of the official ceremony at the National Arboretum this Saturday.

She said it was ‘important’ to remember ‘Uncle Billy’ and the thousands of others who gave their lives in battle.

Alison added: “I never knew my uncle but recall my father often talking about his brother and how he had died during the war."

The Royal British Legion is holding a commemorative Service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire this Saturday and encouraging the

public to take part in a national Moment of Remembrance.

A two-minute silence will take place at 11am and will be the focal point of the commemorative service. The commemorations will pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the thousands of Armed Forces personnel, civilians and family members who contributed to victory in the Far East, and recognise the horrors they endured.

The charity has also launched an interactive map on its website to show the range of nations that service personnel came from and also share the stories of

those who lived through the conflict.

The Royal British Legion’s Assistant Director of Commemorative Events, Bob Gamble OBE, said: “We are encouraging as many people as possible to take part in the VJ Day 75 commemorations in whatever way they wish, whether that be by participating in the Two Minute Silence at home, or leaving a message on our dedicated map to ensure the veterans of the Far East are never forgotten.”

To access the full programme of activities, view the interactive map, leave a message of thanks or upload your own experience of VJ Day, visit www.rbl.org.uk/vjday75

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