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15 October 2014
WW2 - People's War

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BLOWING THE RIVER LYS BRIDGES

by 大象传媒 Radio Norfolk Action Desk

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Contributed by听
大象传媒 Radio Norfolk Action Desk
People in story:听
Frederick A Wright, Lietuenant 'Podger', Arthur Uncles, Benny
Location of story:听
Belgium
Background to story:听
Army
Article ID:听
A5396529
Contributed on:听
30 August 2005

Frederick Wright's Half-track, without a canvas top and painted up for a trip to Berlin to take part in Victory Parade

This contribution to WW2 People鈥檚 War was received by the Action Desk at 大象传媒 Radio Norfolk. The story has been written and submitted to the website by Rosalie Davis Gibb (Volunteer Story Gatherer) with the full permission and on behalf of Frederick A Wright.

1944. We cleared important road junctions and mines, built bridges and gradually the 21st Army group broke clear of France into Belgium, often lead by the 11th Hussars or the poor 鈥榖loody infantry鈥. We advanced about 120 miles, took Ghent and captured something like 10,000 prisoners.

The 11th Hussars more or less captured a small town called Deynze, then discovered a large concentration of the German 15th Army. Our Divisional Commander ordered all bridges over the river Lys to be blown.

That was our job. By the time we arrived it was early evening. The 11th Hussars, who we nicknamed the 鈥榗herry pickers鈥 as they wore pretty red hats, had withdrawn a bit. My crew prepared to lay the explosives to blow the main bridge. Before that could be done I was told to take more explosives to Lieutenant 鈥淧odger鈥檚 Cream鈥 crew. They were trying to blow another bridge but had no other transport with them.

So I delivered what they needed, pulled into a nearby square and waited for them to finish their job. I got out with my semi automatic rifle, for nearby I could see a tall corner brick wall from where I could expect possible trouble.

A lady approached me from nowhere, kissed me, shook my hand and spoke in perfect English. She was English born and after WW1 had married a Belgian soldier. I believed I was the first British soldier she had talked to. She pinned on my shoulder a strip of ribbon carrying the Belgian and British colours. I told her of the danger and she soon made off and took cover.

Presently, enemy gun fire began to come down the road. I thought I was in for it alone. All I could do was run to the corner wall and try to hold them back. I had no qualms about having to shoot my fellow men but I sure was worried. I fully expected to be shot myself.

But thank God the occasion did not arise. Before I reached the wall I could hear someone yelling to me to stop and more footfalls running to the half-track. The bridge had been too strong to blow with what explosives they had. Apparently my crew was waiting for me to return and allow them to blow the main bridge.

I backed away, allowed them into the half-track, threw my rifle behind my seat, got in and we were off. 鈥楶odger鈥 stood waiting to be picked up and as I approached I could see Benny with his hands on the plunger waiting for us to cross. Close by a 鈥榗herry picker鈥 was hammering away with his twin Vickers at whoever had shown up behind us. As I pulled over the bridge and turned to one side for safety, I heard the bridge go up with a terrific roar.

We had at least accomplished what we had been told to do. 鈥楶odger鈥檚鈥 crew, Benny, Arthur Uncles (who we all called 鈥楢untie鈥) etc, got out of the half-track and we set off to find our Squadron, driving through the night without lights.

Please read on to my next story MY FIRST LOVE - "WINNIE IS MISSING"

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