He was the son of Harry and Clara.
He went to Halifax with the Royal Engineers where he met his future wife. He would only return there after the war, having first worked for a veterinary pharmaceutical company in Somerset on demob. He married Doreen Halstead in 1947. In the 1960s they took on the running of the RSPCA clinic, with Hilton taking the manager's position, working out of prefabricated workshops at Woolshops. He would retire in 1985. In 1982 a circular from the RSCPA highlighted the risks from chloroform, widely used to put down animals for whom no homes could be found. It might cause kidney or liver damage and could be carcinogenic, and having recently had a kidney removed along with a neck tumour he realised the impact of his exposure over many years. Health problems would lead to early death just 3 years after retirement.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isle of Wight's Unallocated Men | Patrol member | 09 Sep 1942 | 15 Apr 1943 |
Delivery driver
Discharged and joined His Majesty's Forces (Royal Engineers) 15th April 1943. Many Auxiliers were discharged on this date, which reflected the end of exemption from the call up.
After training in the UK, he served in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. He was driver with 59 Workshops and Park Company. He applied for his medals, but they were returned, possibly as he had moved in the year it took for them to be issued in 1951.
TNA ref WO199/3391,
1939 Register
S Bellman
Halifax Courier 14 Oct 2011
WW2 Medal card