大象传媒

It was D-Day +22 (28 June 1944). My regiment, the 362 S/L Regiment (originally the 5th North Staffs, cap badge the Staffordshire Knot), left Southampton Docks and landed at Utah Beach Head in the American sector. The beach masters urged us to clear the area to avoid casualties. This was a big task as we had very heavy vehicles and equipment. Being a gunner (driver operator), I had my own wireless truck and our officer became my passenger leading the column.

Our journey through France took us past so much devastation. Caen & St Lo remains in my memory. Other towns included Bayeax, Lisieux, Rouen and Dieppe. In one town, we intervened to protect some women who were being harassed by others. Some were stripped of their hair for being too friendly witht he Germans.

In one place where we stopped overnight, a spot of rifle fire was heard close by. I moved through an orchard and snagged myself on strings of barbed wire. At one place, we saw the V2 Rockets being launched, to be targetted at London and elsewhere. It was not long before other units over-ran the positions. We moved from France into Belgium via Brussels and Antwerp and a small town called St Nickolas. It was there that I was able to ferry a poor old injured lady to a local hospital. It was staffed by nuns and I received many thanks.

We proceeded to Holland and, at a town called Hulst, we set up our quarters in an empty school. One night, the news of the German break out from the Falais Gap came through. I was posted on top of a dyke, complete with Bren Gun with express orders to stop a German Panzer Division. It was so cold (being around Christmas time) that I had to e lifted up and taken somewhere a bit warmer to thaw out!

It was only a few weeks later that I was evecuated, leaving behind my regiment. I was finally taken to a military hospital in Carluke, Lanarkshire. That, however, is another story ...

D. G. Sparks

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