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Digby Tatham-Warter- The British World War II Soldier Who Fought With An Umbrella
An incredible and brave leader, the Englishman’s feats in the military were as eccentric as they were impressive
World War II was an incredibly bloody affair, spanning the globe and lasting for years. Destructive weapons were used on all sides in an attempt to gain the upper hand. However, not everyone who fought always used the guns and other technology at hand. British soldier Digby Tatham-Warter famously went into battle wearing a bowler hat and carrying his umbrella, which he used to defend himself and others.
The war was unlike anything that had ever been seen before. Lasting from 1939–1945, there were an estimated 70–85 million casualties worldwide, which represented approximately 3% of the world’s population at the time. Among them, the United Kingdom suffered heavy losses with 450,700 military and civilian deaths being attributed to the conflict — 32,000 more than the United States.
British soldiers were known for their bravery and in many cases unique stoicism. One of the most memorable was Tatham-Warter, a gentleman from a family of some means whose father had fought in World War I, and died as a result of gassing he experienced when his son was just 11. The land his father…
