大象传媒

I was born in Dunsfold, Surrey in 1919 and was destined to become 'something in the city' at the time Chamberlain made his epic return from Munich. I was always tall for my age, about 6ft 4in, and was afraid of getting my head blown off in trench warfare, so I registered as a conscientious objector.

In April 1939 I joined the TA as a stretcher bearer and mobilised in September 1939 as part of a Field Ambulance unit. By November 1939 we were part of the British Expeditionary Force near the Belgian border. It was here that I saw a banner outside a caf茅 which read, 'Our mothers knew your fathers - come and meet your sisters.' This was a poignant reminder that my father could well have passed this way during the conflict of WW1.

However, it was an invitation that could not be refused and I became very friendly with Antoinette, the caf茅 owner's daughter. This period was later called the phoney war, but in April 1940 the Blitzkrieg finally got underway and we were evacuated from Dunkirk in May and returned home to a heroes' welcome, despite the feeling of defeat.

After this I revoked my conscientious objections and was commissioned in the Royal Artillery. After a spell of guarding the Essex coast during the Blitz of London I volunteered for the Middle East and joined the South Notts Hussars and took part in the siege of Tobruk. In June 1942 our battery was overrun and the regiment decimated by Rommel's Panzers. It seemed that all was lost until Monty came and raised our spirits and we reformed with the 7th Medium Regiment.

Monty talked directly to the men and made sure everyone knew exactly what they had to do. New 5.5-inch guns arrived and we fought with the 8th Army in El Alamein, Tripoli, Tunisia, Italy and Malta. I was awarded the Military Cross whilst still holding the rank of Lieutenant and later promoted to Captain.

Finally, the invasion of Normandy was underway and as soon as possible I arranged to meet up with Antoinette again. Her name for me was 'Monsieur David Deux Metres' because of my height. One night in Lille I noticed her head had been completely shaven and when I asked why, she said the communists had settled old scores and she had been branded a 'collaborateur'.

During 1944 we progressed through France, Belgium and eventually as part of the Arnhem relief column which became bogged down in the Dutch mud. We crossed the Rhine and by VE Day our unit was part of the British Army of the Rhine. My main role was the repatriation of Russian PoWs and displaced people. At one point this involved a visit to Dachau Extermination Camp although the full extent of the atrocities was not known at that time.

During this time I met and fell in love with a beautiful German girl although the fraternisation ban was still in force. In 1946 we demobilised and I had to leave her behind. However we still corresponded after I met my second wife Margaret and eventually we met her and her husband again in 1986 for a 40th anniversary. It was a reminder that despite all the vagaries of war, long-standing friendships are made which otherwise would not have been.

During the winter of 1944 we occupied a house in a place called Sitard. Knowing that German shells were exploding all around I told them to open all the windows and carried their son down to the cellar. Many of their neighbours were killed but the boy survives and I recently met him again - he was over 60. He still calls me Captain Elliot.

I still enjoy the reunions of our regiment and meeting my batman Don Peachment and my Sergeant Major Harold Harper to recount and revive our memories of those terrible but never to be forgotten times.

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