大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Helen Oram, Scotland csv on behalf of Norman Cooper and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.

My uncle, Willie Forrest was a country loon (lad) from Glenkindie in Strathdon who told a lie about his age and joined the Gordon Highlanders at age fifteen and a half.

While on patrol looking for Jerries he heard German being spoken and opened fire. He unfortunately killed his own commander, who had been speaking in German. Willie was subsequently wounded himself, along with a lot of his comrades. He was shot three times at Pegasus Bridge, Arnhem. His legs got it. He had shrapnel in his legs for the rest of his life.

He met his future wife at a railway station in London and later married her in London. He returned every year to visit Arnhem. I have photos of Willie in his kilt and Gordon Highlanders uniform taken with the Lord Mayor of london. Willie died in December 2004.

He was awarded ten military medals. His citation, detailing what the medals were for, was signed in person by Monty.

I presented all his medals and the wee diary he kept during the war to the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen. The man at the Museum was amused by some of the diary's contents.

A friend of Willie, a young lad from Lumsden in Aberdeenshire, also swicked (cheated) his age to join the Army. He lost a leg in the war. He also died last year. These two worthies enjoyed getting together to reminisce. I would try to log into what they were saying,but they were "deep". They kept their secrets.

I myself was in the Gordons for nine years and served in Singapore. They were the best years of my life.

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