Born: 4th January 1918. Died: 19th November 2005
Story
Jack Weston, was born illegitimately in Leeds. As a child he was known as Jackie Bell. Before joining the Army as a regular, he lived with Mrs H J Sharp, Council Houses, Kippax.
Jack was present at the evacuation of Dunkirk, and served in Crete. He won the Military Medal for his part in the fighting at El Alamein, which was an Allied victory which is popularly credited with turning the fortunes of War in favour of the Allies. Prime Minister Winston Churchill said of the Second Battle, which took place in October and November 1942: “It may almost be said, ‘Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat’.
Jack had married Phyllis Joyce Vinnicombe in 1940 in her home town of Exeter. They had a daughter in 1941, and a son in 1952, both in Exeter, but the family came back to Kippax in 1956, and lived for a time at 4 The Close. The couple were living at 30 Old Farm Drive, Kirkstall, until Jack passed away there at the age of 87, and Phyllis on 23rd April 2009, aged 86.
Below: A German tank operator surrendering to Allied infantry at El Alamein:
Kippax Roll of Honour 