大象传媒

This story has been written onto the 大象传媒 People鈥檚 War site by CSV Storygatherer Janet on behalf of Gordon William Brown M.M. The story has been added to the site with his permission and Gordon fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.

After enduring war from 1941-1945 on three fronts. 鈥淭he Western Desert鈥�, Italy and Normandy. It's difficult to choose which episodes to include.

My training commenced on 16th January 40. By May the British Forces were retreating towards Dunkirk and the generals decided that four thousand troops should be sent the next day, over to Calais to hold up the German armour for at least five days.

On the evening on the 21st May, 30 Brigade was ordered to proceed to Dover that night and sail the next morning, even though they were ill equipped.

Many were on leave and many out on the town. The cinema lights went on and the troops were ordered to form up outside, put on lorries still in their shirt sleeves and taken direct to Dover. Tents, vehicles, and weapons were following the next day. They did, but posts missing and new weapons still greased up. Five rounds per man was issued as ammo was short.

Not knowing any of this, I was ordered to get my gear together, this was on the 25th and taken down to Dover with a handful of others. We were given some sandwiches, chocolate bars, Ammo and grenades, put on a fishing boot and said for Calais. We could get no response from our calls as they had been overseen. I suppose they had just about done the job. A few found their way over the Channel. Most were killed, wounded or captured. The prisoners were treated very badly by the Germans. They were forced to clear up the mess the bombing and shelling had made. The Germans said, they had been responsible. They should have surrendered earlier. They were then marched through France, Belgium, Holland to a camp in Germany.

I was so lucky not to be amongst them.

The Western Desert

It's mid 41 and the battalion has been reformed. The past has been forgotten, at least for now.

I am now a sergeant in charge of a platoon.

We鈥檝e been together now since Jan 40 and have made many friends. We are now supposed to know it all.

The regimental band arrives at 鈥淭鈥︹�︹�︹�� Camp鈥� to see us off, we鈥檝e been fitted out in shorts and Pith helmets. First stop is S/S 鈥淔ranconia鈥� in Liverpool docks.

On the first morning, making my way up to the top deck, with three rungs to go, there is an awful explosion 鈥� followed by more. Then silence.

First thought is an air raid, but no. It's canisters holding sockets around the deck exploding.

There were several killed and wounded.

Sabotage was thought to be the reason. My second lucky break.

After a vile journey, food disgusting, sleeping like rats down on E deck. A long way below sea level and on the wrong side of the water tight doors.

I volunteered to be on Ack-Ack guns full time and slept on deck.

We eventually sailed up the Red Sea and then took a bone shaker train to Port Said. Made camp at Elminya, very near to the pyramids, where I got a guide to take me up inside to the tomb.

We鈥檝e serviced our vehicles, cleaned our weapons and are on the move. To take up position behind the forward troops. On the first morning we noticed a dozen or so Stuka鈥檚 coming towards us. They pass over, heading east which fools us for a moment, they they turn with the sun behind them. As we are on the move there are no slit trenches so lay on our backs, firing our bren guns. They dropped off into single file. Picking their own targets. There was no doubt which one had picked on me. It came lower and lower it as though it would crash on me. The bomb came out, waggled about for a second, then straighten up, shining like silver in the sunlight. The pilot pulls out of his dive making a horrible whining noise. When the bomb is just house high I remember saying `Oh God no鈥� and shutting my eyes. The bang was deafening followed by many more, all around my vehicles.

I look around at my men, several were hit. Rifleman Silver was about two or three yards from me, half sitting up clutching his Bren Gun. His hands gripping the gun had no flesh on them, just bones. I put my arm around him, then saw that blood was coming from his mouth and that the other side of his face, had a large hole in it. He died in my arms. A stretcher took him away with the other casualties.

Nobody was speaking, all too stunned. The blue flag went up and we moved forward.

It was our initiation into war.

We advanced and retreated throughout 41 and 42. Finishing up at 鈥淭he Gazeda鈥� line which we hoped to hold. Stopping Rommel getting to `Tobruk鈥�. This line stretched from the coast for about thirty miles into the desert, to a lip called 鈥淭he Phetima Box鈥� which we had to hold with all round defence.

After making the position more defensible we are allocated a job, which is more in our line. That is a long range patrol behind their lines to attack a forward airstrip and to make out that this is the start of an all out attack.

This was to forestall Rommel鈥檚 impending break our. It didn鈥檛. His attack went ahead all along the line, over running our troops. Leaving us out on a limb. Our echelon ran into an armoured division and were all put in the bag, all except one vehicle who eventually found us. We had no food, water, fuel, and ammo, but had two letters from my wife.

We have to head a little more south, kick up by day and travel in the dark.

As we travel along we can hear the rumble of the German armour going in the same direction a bit worrying.

We are siphoning petrol from one vehicle to another and smashing them up when we leave, 鈥︹��.. soldiers per truck, more springs are going.

I ration the water to a swig in the morning and the same at night. Food had nearly gone and we are bfiting bits from our emergency ration (four sections in a tin, one section enough vitamin for a day).

Absolutely no washing or cleaning teeth.

One day our look-out says there was no sign of the Jerry so I took my boots off that night and went to sleep. The next morning I took a spade and walked over the top of this small mound for a little privacy. Stretching out before me in all directions is the largest army I鈥檝e ever seen.

They were all going about their business washing and shaving. I slowly turned around and told everyone, we were moving, that minute. Never did use that spade. We got back and made contact, just before we reached El-Alamein. We are now digging in at El-Alamein, next stop will be Cairo.

I鈥檝e got dysentery badly, I mean badly. I鈥檓 in a field first aid station on a stretcher, wanting to die amongst others. I鈥檓 bounced sixty inches back to Alex in a 15cwt truck. That helped no end.

I鈥檓 fit enough to leave hospital and on my way to the transit camp. In Cairo I notice one of our Jeeps. I asked what he was doing in Cairo and the answer is that he has lost his nerve and ran. I said that we can go up together to save me waiting at the transit, but he is too shaky. So I take him to the Military Police, fill up with petrol and make my way up the blue. No idea where they are but a few enquiries does the trick. Didn鈥檛 want to go too far. His company were glad to get their Jeep back. Thought he had been captured.
It was now getting near the time for the balloon to go up. The barrage has now started about four hundred pieces of artillery so we were expecting a big bang and it was. I couldn鈥檛 help thinking about the poor devils taking it.

Our first action was against a positions name 鈥淲oodcock鈥� whilst the Rifle Brigade attacked 鈥淪nipe鈥�. The brigadier was obviously fond of game shooting. These two positions were doing a lot of damage and holding up the advance.

My close friend got shot in the eyes. He bounced about in the bottom of the bren carrier until the action was over. He survived although blind. He practiced as a physio and had a marvellous clientele and including me.

We鈥檝e pulled back to clean up and make up shortage. Ready for the pursuit to start,

We are now racing through the broken German line. Small pockets of resistance which we left for the follow up to look after also masses of Jerry looking really shell shocked. We did 85 miles in one day. We did 2000 in six months. Now the Americans want to join in, to claim some of the benefit.

It's been a hard day and we reached a spot that looks just right for an ambush. A track bending to the left behind a small hill. On the right there is a high escarpment. We take up defensive position and rest for the night.

Early morning and our Major asks me to go forward to locate the enemy. I take one bren carrier and one mobile anti-tank gun.

Coming to the bend I stop two hundred yards short and go forward on foot, peering over, the track runs into an oasis about a mile away. I did hear the sound of an engine on the escarpment side, should have taken more notice of this. Out from the Palm trees comes a 88mm self propelled gun and a troop carrier. Too good for me really but think that I could surprise him, if he gets really close. Not to be as he turns around four hundred yards from me. I open up with bren gun and the six pounder. Hit the troop carrier but not finish him off. Then the shells start falling around us and thought that a hasty retreat is called for. It's a long way back in the soft sand. Every time I hear the guns fire, I change direction. We play Cat an Mouse all the way back. They had already taken the range of this small hill.

`Tripoli鈥� is only about ten days away.

Then came Italy, Normandy D1, Denmark.

CITATIONS AND MENTIONS

To: SGT GORDON W BROWN

The bravest man I ever knew he inspired and encouraged his men under heavy fire I was glad that he was with me for the crossing of the 鈥淪angro River鈥�.

The first section raced over the bridge, met by heavy shell fire. They were all wounded with several killed. Without any thought for himself SGT Brown raced over amidst heavy fire. Tended to the wounded and then carried a seriously wounded man back over the river. Unfortunately this rifleman died the next day.

Brigadier Sir John Hunt
C.B.E. D.S.O
The Lord hunt Everest Leader

A Great Fellow Rifleman with my best wishes and respect.

Edwin Bramall
Field Marshall
Lord Bramall
KG GCB OBE MCJP

An Excellent Soldier, very reliable a great comrade and friend.

Roly Gibbs
Field Marshall

Sir Roland Gibbs
GCB CBE DSO MC

An outstanding N.C.O both in and out of action. Very intelligent, cheerful with a lot of initiative and a strong sense of responsibility absolutely trustworthy and very reliable and dependable.

John Simpson
Lt colonel
Commanding
12 Battalion KRRC

I also knew SGT Brown. It was at 鈥淐AEN鈥� that he tore off part of my shirt tail, put on a Tourniquet bundled me into a truck back to the field hospital.

Rifleman Gibbs

To my dear Topper Gordon Brown MM just a note to let you know how much I appreciated all your help and services while we were together, that I shall miss you, that I miss you now.

Ted Ellsworth
Colonel
United States Army
Dubugue
IOWA
USA

I greatly regret that I am unable to give you personally the award which you have so well earned.

I now send it to you with my congratulations and my best wishes for your future happiness.

George RI
HM The King
The Colonel In Chief

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