大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Stoke-on-Trent Libraries on behalf of Robert Fotheringham and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I went away in 1938 to Stirling to the HQ of the Argylls. "They made me a soldier." The training seemed to be all marching. Group marches...we'd do 40 miles a day sometimes.

In 1942 I went to North Africa - Algeria. I do remember having time to visit some wonderful places, ruins, temples. I was training for the military guard. At one point I was bodyguard to General Alexander.

In 1943 I went to Sicily then on to Italy and then Austria. I worked in a prison camp for war criminals. There were all nationalities there. I even met my wife while working there. She lived in a village close to the prison camp. I already spoke some German and I met her at a village dance. We married in 1947 in Austria. In 1948 we moved to Scotland. I had a friend while working at the camp who also married an Austrian lady. We visited them at their home in Stoke-on-Trent and ended up moving here soon after.

In the army we had our food rations but while in Austria I enjoyed some of the local dishes. I can't spell them but they were lovely and my wife still cooks them today!
Robert Fotheringham-now of Stoke-on-Trent

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