大象传媒

My Great Uncle Frank Towle was conscripted into the 4th Battalion of the Lincolnshire regiment in 1943 when he was just 18 years old. He trained extensively in amphibious landings, gunmanship, mock attacks, battles with the Canadian army and survival skills. In Kessingland he met the lady he wanted to marry and spent time with her before his embarkation. He was later to send her a large German flag which she made into a red blouse and skirt! Frank was in the follow up troops which left for France in the days following D-day to make the push into Normandy. Frank fought in the notorious closing of the Falaise Pocket, for Caen and Le Harve before moving on to Belgium. In the battle for the Albert-Turnhout canal, the Lincolns were awarded the title as a battle of honour for their regiments colours due to their bravery. Franks next major battle was at Poppel forest where the Lincolns mission was to push back the Germans. It was a terrible battle with eventual British victory but sadly Frank did not live to tell the tale. He died at the age of 19 only months before his 20th birthday on Christmas day. He is buried at Leopoldsburg War Cemetery in Belgium and is commemorated on a large monument in the village of Poppel where he gave his life. There is a service held at the monument for the British troops who died in Poppel on the 11th of November every year.

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