大象传媒

This concerns one who was liked from when he first joined the troop in early 1944. It so happened that in preparation for, and also anticipation of casualties the Squadron received new men from the Training Regiments and an influx of Junior Officers, one to each troop, as 2nd Officer.
We received ours at Driffield, East Yorkshire. It happened when the door to our Nissan Hut flew open (our Sergeant always came in like that!!) He ordered us to "Stand to your beds" and then he introduced us to our new Number 2 Troop Officer. A muttered voice from down the hut said "They are getting younger by the day", as in came a smart young officer looking as if he had come straight from school!!
Now relaxed and gathered at one end of the hut and told we could smoke, we now knew his name and he proceeded to tell us the same old story that all new officers from the training regiments had learned by heart. A Tank Troop is compared to a family, the Corporal being looked on as the oldest of the children, the Sergeant as the 'Mother' of the troop with the Officer in the position of 'Father' of the family. Now we had in our troop a lad who came from Paignton in Devon, a dour, slow to humour salt of the earth, but with an inner sense of humour that when it did come was so infectious it made eveybody else just 'wrap-up' in stitches. Eventually our Sergeant having once more restored order, apologised to the officer who with a big smile said to our lad "What was it I said that you found so funny?" Our lad replied by saying "It was your description of a family atmosphere", to which our young officer said "I thought it was very good". Our lad said "So it was until you said you were the Father". (Once more a total collapse with everybody almost rolling on the floor). After our Sergeant had again restored order, our young officer said "I still don't quite see why you all found it so funny", to which our lad said in real Devon Tongue, "Well you'm only a boy". It was a wonder the hut didn't fall down with the roar of laughter, even the Sergeant had to enjoy it!! But the punch line came when our new young officer said "You're quite right, I am only 19 years old so I'm expecting you older chaps to take good care of me". From that moment he was one of us - he could do no wrong!!
The time came when he took over the troop in July '44 after our 1st Officer was killed during 'Operation Epsom' after which the Regiment was re-organised and our 'Very Young No. 2' now became our No. 1 as Troop Leader, so we now had the job of 'looking after him'. He was our Troop Leader during 'Operation Goodwood', which he survived. Unfortunately my tank was hit and I went to hospital with shrapnel wounds. I returned after 12 days and found that again the Regiment had been re-organised and he had been transferred to another Squadron.
It was while serving with this other Squadron during 'Operation Bluecoat' that during the first week in August '44 his tank was hit, his body was never recovered, his name is now on the Bayeux War Memorial as 'Missing - believed killed' having no known grave.
He may not have a grave but he will always be remembered by me. He never lived to have his 20th birthday so he was and will always remain, still a 'Boy'.

From
Reg - Your Vet

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