大象传媒

On the 23rd December 1944 I was in the Aerdenes plugging up the gap the Germans had made. I was sent to Haernhem to join the Special Weasel Transport Platoon attatched to the 70th Brigade Workshops at Nighmegan. I was driving the special amphibian vehicles. One day we were crossing the river in convoy. I was No1 vehicle leading the way when i noticed something shining in the water, thinking it might be a mine, i gave the signal to stop. I climbed out of my vehicle and on checking I found that it was a small silver picture frame and a small silver horse. I gave the all clear and climbed back into my vehicle,but, before i could start my engine there was a large explosion. the vehicles behind had now overtaken me and the leading vehicle had hit a mine. That picture frame and horse had probabley saved my life. I now keep the picture frame with a picture of my late wife inside along with the horse on a shelf in my lounge.
Another time in Nighmegan I was billetted in a house opposite the church along with another soldier with a local family. This particular day we were on our way to get breakfast at the canteen wich was situated at a nearby yard next to a railway line. We got within a couple of yards from the canteen when we heard a loud droning sound, looking up we realized it was a Zepplin, just then the engine stopped and the Zepplin fell to the ground with a large explosion.
We thought it had hit the church but on returning later that day we found to our horror that it had actually hit the house where we had been staying. The few belongings we had left had all been lost. We don't know what happened to the family but we can only asume that they all perished in the blast.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.