William Arthur Winter

William Arthur "Bill" Winter (17 September 1913 – 4 December 2004) was a Regimental Sergeant Major with the Royal Army Medical Corps. He received the Distinguished Conduct Medal while serving in Burma during the Second World War.

Early life
Winter was born to Ethel Arthurene Wilton and Robert Winter (soldier) on 17 September 1913. He married Bettie South (Phyllis Hall) in December 1941 when he was 28, shortly after he was posted out to fight during The Second World War. Winter did then not see Bettie for over 4 years until the war ended in 1945.

Service
Winter joined the Army in 1936, first serving in Malta then during The Second World War in 1940 Winter experienced his first action in Norway. He toured in the Middle East, Far East and Greece before becoming a commissioned officer in 1952.

Winter's citation for the Distinguished Conduct Medal states that he "swam across the Irrawaddy under machinegun fire to organise the collection of casualties".

The citation notes that during the enemy's engagement which lasted over 72 hours Winter "ceaselessly toured the forward advanced dressing stations" in conditions that were described as "intense shell fire" ensuring the evacuation of many casualties. It is said that the treatment Winter gave to the casualties and the superb condition they arrived at hospital saved countless lives.

Winter and his father Robert Winter (soldier) are the only British known father and son ever to both have won the Distinguished Conduct Medal Robert receiving his medal for service during The First World War and William during The Second World War. The only other recorded instance of a father and son both winning the Distinguished Conduct Medal is from Canada, also during the first and Second World War.

Both sets of medals are held in a private collection.

As part of the Royal Army Medical Corps Winter travelled to Canada and West Africa before retiring in 1967.

Later life
After returning from the war, Winter had two children and completed numerous tours across seas taking his family with him before finally settling down to live in Ash Vale, Surrey.

After retirement, Winter moved on to become the Royal Army Medical Corps first regimental secretary.

Winter was a chairman of the Ash Parish Council between 1983 and 1987. He went on to orchestrate the "Bond of Friendship" between the local council and the Royal Army Medical Corps regiment, the presentation of which was made at the local recreation ground where many attended, the event was preceded by a parade through the town

Winter was president of the local Burma Star Association and also of the local St John Ambulance Association in Ash Vale.

Winter married Phyllis Hall (Bettie South) and they had two children. Bettie passed away in 2001 after a long period with Alzheimer's.

Family
Winter was born in Chaubatia, Uttaranchal, India to Robert Winter and Dorothy Pearce. His father Robert Winter was born in 1888 in the town of Birr, County Offaly, in Ireland.

Robert Winter was a Company Sargeant Major in the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians). Unusually and not repeated since, Robert also won the Distinguished Conduct Medal in the First World War, for single-handedly clearing a German trench. Robert was the first man to enter the trench and the last man to leave he was cited for his "invaluable assistance in the evacuation of casualties". Robert then went on to win the Military Medal and after the war became a Commissioner of the Nigerian Police.