Pudge brothers at war

Brothers Lionel and Ivan Pudge both fought during the Second World War, one with the British Army, the other in the Royal Navy.

Lionel Pudge had been serving with the British Army prior to the war in China and India as a Private in the Worcestershire Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Phillips.

Whilst serving with the Lincolnshire Regiment in Burma during May 1944, he was killed in action fighting Japanese forces and is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

Ivan Pudge, a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy served aboard a number of ships during World War 2 including the Revenge-class battleship, HMS Resolution. Ivan became know as 'Jonah' amongst his crewmates as many of the ships on which he served were sunk.

He was badly affected by one particular incident when one of his friends was blown apart by an attacking Japanese aircraft and his officer told him to 'sweep him off the deck' and just carry on. He remembered this incident for the rest of his life.