大象传媒

This story was submitted to the Peoples's War site by J. Marshall on behalf of Harold Nisbett and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions

In 1940 I had arrived in Durban, South Africa from Scotland with my regiment the Norfolk Yeomanry. Whenever ships sailed past a long spit of land there was a local woman who used to come out and sing Gracie Fields songs to the men! That was obviously her way of helping the war effort!

We went via Suez into Egypt and were stationed along the Canal. We used to swim in the Canal because it was so hot, one day I was cooling off in the water when I saw an aircraft carrier approaching very rapidly. Because it was so large it took up the entire width of the Canal so needless to say I got out of its way very rapidly!

Then we were sent into action in the desert, I had never been away from home before let alone abroad so I felt this time marked when I was going from boyhood into manhood. Unfortunately around this time I developed jaundice and had to go to hospital to recover.

After I recovered I was sent back and joined the Royal Horse Artillery, Anti Tank Regiment. Just before I arrived there had been a huge battle and one of the officers, Lt Ward-Gunn was awarded a VC for his actions.

I took part in the battle of El Alamein, then went to Italy landing at Salerno. We were refitted for the Second Front and came back home via the Mediterranean.
We stayed at Fakenham for about 6 months and then went back into action for the D Day landing (D Day plus 4 or 5).

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