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"This story was submitted to the People's War site by the Barnsley Archives and Local Studies Department on behalf of Fredrick Johnson and has been added to the site with his/her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions."
I was in the Royal Artillery in the Middle East for 8 years. I was in South Africa; Egypt; the Western Desert; North Africa; Italy; Austria. I was a Gunner — operator fire control (Radar). I was wounded in the back at Fort Caputso in Libya. While I was in the hospital they brought a pilot in covered in burns, he died later.

I enjoyed the war, the only time I was scared was when I returned to my unit from the hospital.

I was in the territorial from 1938 when I was 17 years old. I’ve got the Africa Star; Italy Star; 8th Army Star; Service Medal and Territorial Medal.

I can remember landing in Durban and seeing the Lady in White on the cliffs singing. We stayed there for a few days at Clearwood Racecourse camp. We went to Egypt from there. Durban people were fabulous, waiting to take you into their homes. The first place we went to was the Wesleyan chapel.

My wife was in the land army at Trimley St Mary’s near Felixstowe. We‘ve been married 58 years and have 2 children, 3 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. They had anti-aircraft guns down there and I used to see her bringing the cows into the field.

I saw all the pyramids and sphinx etc while in the Middle East.

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