大象传媒

My Father,Edward (Ted) Kirby served most of his war on Murmansk convoy duty and as Coxswain of H.M.S Starling on U.Boat patrol in the North Atlantic under Captain Walker. During the d.day landings he was piloting landing craft up the beaches near the village of Ouistrehom.
Up to the 6th June 1944 day he had never seen at first hand the 'enemy'which in some way's I think facinated him. He had seen enemy ships and sank enemy U.Boats but always felt that he would like to see those he was fighting against first hand.
Having completed his task of running ashore the troops who were to take up the land battles he was ordered ashore to support the land troops.
It was during his short time ashore as he was securing a property near the beach when he came across the body of Leiutenant Karl Wilkes who had unfortunately been shot and killed earlier.
This young man was the first German Dad had seen and he was saddened by this sight as it was the realisation that the 'enemy' were just young men such as himself and not the monsters he had probably imagined them to be. He described Karl Wilkes as an extremely hansome young man and was saddened by the sight that he witnessed. He never forgot Karl Wilkes telling me the story of this few hours of of his life on that fateful day. The memory of Karl Wilkes stayed with him until the end of his life.
I write this in memory of my Dad, Able seaman Edward kirby and of leiutenant Karl Wilkes.

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