大象传媒

Written by Frederik Dalton - typed by Alex Dalton.

Like thousands of young men in 1939 i decided to join the Territorial Army. I joined the Royal Artillery. Our gunes were 1916 vintage and horses were on the point of being phased out although we didnt know that.Riding lessons were at Woolwich.

We went to camp at Bealieu and that was the last we saw of our mounts. Coming back to London at the end of camp was a nightmare but luckily the traffic was light.

We were concentrated around Sutton in Surrey. Our guns were then changed from 18 pounders to 25 pounders.

September 16th and I was moved to France, not knowing alot about the country only what my father had told me. I was deployed at a place called Cherbourg and then travelled by train to our Concentration area just outside of Lille. Later that month our new guns arrived with us, this was a good piece of news.

Forward to May 10th 1940 and at 3:00 am we were woken up and rushed to battle stations. Germans had attacked Belgium and we were used to see them off. 3 weeks later i was invlved in the battle of Dukirk. I remember not eating food for a week or sleeping for that matter. I remember seeing a hole where a bomb had dropped so i got a piece of metal went in the hole and dropped off to sleep. When you havent slepped for a week you'll sleep through anything! The battle was horendus. I was evacuated on July 3rd. Coming back to Dover i picked up 拢4. Going back to London people just kept giving me items as they knew i was involved in the battle on Dunkirk. 15 months went until i was involved in active service again, i wasnt happy about this as i wanted to serve for the people of England. Finally my chance came! I was deployed to various outposts including South Africa,India,Assam,Iraq,Russia and most notebly Egypt to become a Desert Rat. Sadly though I was diagnosed with conjunctavitas and was then deployed to the Royal Horse Artillery. I was taught how to drive a tank, a priest.

My next journey took me to Italy and then onto Austria at the end of the War. I was put on guard here and was extremely lucky to not get a wound. The only problem we had was getting Italian women to do our washing!

Over the years I have told many a story to my Children,Wife and Grandchildren. I often think today why did i give up 7 years of my life just for the world to be in the state its in today.

I would like to say to all young people to take an interest in what happened in 1939-1945 beacause they will never live lives like I and so many more have done.

So buy a popy and be grateful we have a Queen and that the Union Jack stil flys over our heads.

Gunner F Dalton

A word from Alex:

My Grandad doesnt know I am typing this but what the heck!

Ive read this over and over again especially the part "i wonder why i gave 7 years of my life up"...well Grandad if it wasnt for you i wouldnt be able to ride my bike freely over to see you or go out with my friends and have a good time. Thanks to you and many people of your generation we live in a safe country only threatened by Terrorism. So thank you Grandad and all the hero's from WWII for making my childhood a safe and enjoyable one.

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