大象传媒

The following account of a soldier's life in World War II was taken down by Mary Kay Cresswell, on behalf of the Bridport Museum, in November, 2004. Mr. Davies, who lives in a local residential home, has checked and signed it for accuracy.

I was in the Army with the Royal Engineers from 4th April, 1940 until 4th August, 1946. I was 20 years old when I went in and initially trained in Hampshire. I married my wife in 1940. I was 27 years old when I came out. The work of the Royal Engineers was to build and repair bridges. It took us several weeks to get up through the east coast of France, after we first invaded. I remember specifically working on the construction of the Victory Bridge, over the Rhine River in France. British and Canadian soldiers worked on the bridge together, which was made of wood. The piling frame was put on a raft and floated into place. The Dutch soldiers brought the wooden timbers down the river to where we were building. Steel girders arrived on barges. We worked on this bridge towards the end of the War, in 1944-45.

I also remember working on the repair of the bridges in Holland. One bridge connected the two sections of Holland, which had been separated during the War. I participated in the liberation of Germany at the end of the War, getting as far north as Hamburg. The entire country was smashed up. I remember being camped in Germany after the War was over and a German woman with her child came up to an Allied officer. She was seeking assistance for her child, who had a broken leg. The officer said he could not help the child and we were ordered not to speak to any of the German residents, but we did. I was in Germany for about 12 months after the War ended, from 1945 to 1946.

Mr. Davies then showed the interviewer his four medals he was awarded for his service: the 1939-1945 Star, for the Battle of Britain; the France and Germany Star, Atlantic; the Defence medal, which was silver; and a fourth medal with the face of King George V on it.

Mr. Davies had an original copy of 鈥楥ampaign Stars, Clasps and Medals instituted in recognition of Service in the war of 1939-1945鈥� pamphlet; his original calling up letter from the National Services Act, 1939, an original letter from General Dwight Eisenhower entitled, 鈥淪oldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!鈥� He also had his Record of Service (Army) form; his Soldier鈥檚 Release Book Class 鈥淎鈥� for Royal Engineers鈥�, his 1946 Certificate of Transfer to the Army Reserve papers and a pay book showing his 拢77.11.0 for 6 years鈥� military service. (He added that soldiers had to buy their own cleaning and polishing equipment out of their own pay.)

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