Clifford Hagley aged 18 yrs.
- Contributed by听
- Andrew Hagley
- People in story:听
- Clifford Hagley
- Location of story:听
- North Africa
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A7537944
- Contributed on:听
- 05 December 2005
Clifford Hagley started out in life as a groom in Devon. In February 1939 he applied to enlist in the Life Guards, but being only 5'11'' was declined as he was not tall enough! He subsequently enlisted with the Coldstream Guards.
Following the declaration of war he saw active service in a number of campaigns beginning with the evacuation of Dunkirk. He later served in North Africa, Italy and Greece. In 1943 he was wounded and treated at an American Hospital, (or holiday camp as he prefered to call it!).
During service in North Africa he recalled an incident (one of many)that could have cost him his life. During a quiet dull day he was with a colleague in a dugout in the open desert. A motorcycle despatch rider arrived, and left his motorbike some distance from the trench. Being fascinated by bikes my father left to take a look. Whilst standing with the bike he was aware of his colleague waving frantically at him from the trench some 40 yards away.Believing this to mean that a 'brew'was up, he waved back. Within seconds he hit the deck as a huge roar screamed overhead.
Looking up he saw the markings of German ME 109 which had clearly been 'hedge hopping' on a reconnaissance mission. His colleagues had been able to see it at a distance but he had not. As the plane banked away, the pilot waggled the wings as if to send a message 'could have got you!'. He was forever grateful to that pilot!
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