- Contributed byÌý
- tivertonmuseum
- People in story:Ìý
- Jim Cornell.
- Location of story:Ìý
- Exeter, Colchester, Cornwell, Durham.
- Background to story:Ìý
- Army
- Article ID:Ìý
- A7888503
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 19 December 2005
This story was submitted to the people war Website by a volunteer from Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life on behalf of Jim Cornell.
JIM CORNELL
I was 16 when I became a messenger for the ARP (Air Raid Precautions) in Exeter during the blitz. I was sent off from my post in Frenchay Street to another post by the Odean Cinema and from there out to the judges’ lodgings (near the crematorium) which was the assembly point for all rescue workers from outside surrounding areas. I was acting as a guide for the rescue workers and this went on for 3 days with no one, including my family, knowing where I was! I grabbed food as and when I could which is all you could do in those times.
I was called up aged 18 on February 18th 1943. I went to Colchester for training with the General Service Corps. I did my battalion training with the Somersets and then I was posted to the Duke of Cornwall’s for 5 months. I then joined the Durham Light Infantry for Normandy. I recall a harrowing moment when one of our tanks was hit by a shell and ignited. I could hear the radio operator inside the tank but there was nothing I could do. We found his body astride the burnt out tank in the morning. Shells were passing where I was for a second time!!
I rejoined the regiment in Normandy in 1994 for the break out through the Falaise Gap. We drove in lorries to Belgium (the Escalt Canal) when the Arnheim boys went over. We advanced along the corridor across the Dutch border where I met a Dutch boy, William Poos, who approached us having escaped from a German lorry which was taking him for forced labour. We passed Niymegan towards Arnheim and we held the line against the Germans. My battalion was disbanded when we returned to Belgium and our company was posted to the Ox and Bucks Regiment. We returned to Arnheim and were loaded onto a tank troop carrier and found that we were in the middle of a minefield! We safely negotiated our way out and returned to the Ardennes where we massed for the final attack through the Reichsfield.
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