大象传媒

Ted Rogers was 23 when he joined the 103rd Northumberland regiment. In 1941, he was sent to the North-African desert to fight against the Nazis. He used to work as a bricklayer in Swinnerton and Newton Aycliffe. When the war started, Ted helped build bomb shelters.
Ted鈥檚 job in the army was to fire an anti-tank gun guided by a Sergeant. The regiment only started battle after Britain had gained control of the North African war, so he followed the main army, shooting only when necessary.
Ted took part in an attack through a minefield, and he described having to stand and wait for the order to march, under mortar fire, as a 鈥渉airy鈥� moment. He mainly enjoyed his time in the army, and he got to know several people very well.
Unfortunately, in March 1943, Ted was seriously injured during the battle at Maretl, burning lots of his body. He was treated with skin grafts in Cairo, and he was transferred back to England before the end of the war. During his time in the Cairo hospital, Ted met Italian and German prisoners of war, and he realised that they shared a common feeling with him, while in hospital.
Ted recovered, and lived back at home with his wife and a child. His second child was born on VJ Day.
Ted鈥榮 first child was evacuated due to the bombing in Sunderland. Ted says that the standard of living for people living in Britain during the war was improved as the percentage of employment was drastically improved, along with rations giving a constant supply of food.
Ted experienced life on the home front, at war, in hospital, evacuation, bombing and the blackout providing an invaluable insight to the Second World War.

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