Description
Object description
Interesting ts memoir (17pp, written 1994) recording his service with the Territorial Army (May 1938 – January 1944) including brief details of his service with the Royal Artillery (May 1939 – September 1939); mobilisation as a gunner with the 97th (Kent Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA and embarkation to France (September 1939); the arrival in France (September 1939 - ?November 1939) and active service as part of the 51st (Highland) Division (?November 1939 – June 1940) notably defending the Maginot Line and the withdrawal to St Valery-en-Caux (May 1940 – June 1940) forming a bridgehead and being Mentioned in Despatches for rescuing a badly injured comrade; avoiding capture at St Valery, his escapes from detention in Wimereux and Lille, and his trek through Normandy disguised as a French workman (June 1940 – July 1940); being sheltered by the local French population at a farm on the marshes at Robehomme near the village of Varavilles (July 1940 – March 1941), obtaining false identity papers and helping the local Resistance Group; his escape from Normandy into Vichy France (March 1941) and then over the Pyrenees into Spain, his capture and internment by the Spanish in concentration camps at Figueras, Saragossa and Miranda de Ebro and his release to the British Embassy in Madrid, his repatriation to Scotland via Gibraltar for interrogation about his experiences prior to his return to his home in Canterbury (March 1941 – July 1941); and brief details of his subsequent active service in North Africa, the Middle East, Sicily and Italy until wounded at Monte Cassino in January 1944, his recovery and demobilisation (no dates); returning to Varaville/La Horne (February 1994) for the 50th Anniversary of D-Day; and commenting on life in Normandy while disguised as a farm worker; the poor treatment and conditions, notably the shortages of food while being held by the Spanish and working in a stone quarry; being congratulated on his escape by Sir Samuel Hoare (later Viscount Templewood) and Field Marshal Lord Gort; and his admiration for the French who helped him to escape.
Content description
Interesting ts memoir (17pp, written 1994) recording his service with the Territorial Army (May 1938 – January 1944) including brief details of his service with the Royal Artillery (May 1939 – September 1939); mobilisation as a gunner with the 97th (Kent Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA and embarkation to France (September 1939); the arrival in France (September 1939 - ?November 1939) and active service as part of the 51st (Highland) Division (?November 1939 – June 1940) notably defending the Maginot Line and the withdrawal to St Valery-en-Caux (May 1940 – June 1940) forming a bridgehead and being Mentioned in Despatches for rescuing a badly injured comrade; avoiding capture at St Valery, his escapes from detention in Wimereux and Lille, and his trek through Normandy disguised as a French workman (June 1940 – July 1940); being sheltered by the local French population at a farm on the marshes at Robehomme near the village of Varavilles (July 1940 – March 1941), obtaining false identity papers and helping the local Resistance Group; his escape from Normandy into Vichy France (March 1941) and then over the Pyrenees into Spain, his capture and internment by the Spanish in concentration camps at Figueras, Saragossa and Miranda de Ebro and his release to the British Embassy in Madrid, his repatriation to Scotland via Gibraltar for interrogation about his experiences prior to his return to his home in Canterbury (March 1941 – July 1941); and brief details of his subsequent active service in North Africa, the Middle East, Sicily and Italy until wounded at Monte Cassino in January 1944, his recovery and demobilisation (no dates); returning to Varaville/La Horne (February 1994) for the 50th Anniversary of D-Day; and commenting on life in Normandy while disguised as a farm worker; the poor treatment and conditions, notably the shortages of food while being held by the Spanish and working in a stone quarry; being congratulated on his escape by Sir Samuel Hoare (later Viscount Templewood) and Field Marshal Lord Gort; and his admiration for the French who helped him to escape.
History note
Cataloguer SNR