Souter, William Richard

Date of birth:: April 4th, 1920 (London, United Kingdom)
Date of death:: December 6th, 2008
Service number:: 993647
Nationality:: British

Biography

Bill Souter joined the Daily Mirror as a messenger boy in 1934. On the outbreak of the Second World War he enlisted in the Royal Artillery, 15.8.1940, and trained as a driver/ signaller; posted to Palestine to a Mountain Artillery Regiment, he and his battery commander were later transferred to North Africa to join 8 Field Regiment Royal Artillery, serving with the 1st New Zealand Division.
He subsequently served in India and Burma,
His last posting, appropriately for a newspaper-man, was on the staff of the 49th Division newspaper, "Polar News", in the British Army of occupation in Germany, before he was discharged, 20.10.1946. After the War, Soutar returned to the Daily Mirror, 'and secured a position on the newspaper's picture desk. Over the following decades he was promoted to Daily Mirror picture editor, art editor, executive editor and, finally, strips editor.

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Military Medal (MM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Gunner
Unit:: 8th Field Regiment, 1st New Zealand Division, New Zealand Military Forces
Awarded on:: March 19th, 1942

Recommendation:
"This man performed the duties of W/T Operator in his Battery Commander's truck. He showed exceptional devotion to duty and disregard of his own safety. He remained calmly at his wireless set sending situation reports whilst others were taking shelter from heavy shell fire. Although his truck was hit with splinters more than once, he remained unperturbed. It was largely due to this man's outstanding behaviour that much valuable information reached the Divisional Commander."