大象传媒

Bernard (Blondie to his mates) joined the Army in January 1940, he was a telephone operator so they wanted him in the Royal Signals. He was posted to Tunbridge Wells where he stayed training as a linesman until just before D Day when he was transferred to London to be ready for the ship which was to take him to Normandy.

When in Normandy he advanced with the Infantry etc to Caen and the Falaiz Gap where he was dug in in a slit trench, dugout, hole or whatever you would like to call it, just a big hole in the ground, which had a test point in it (Communication Centre) transmitting signals from front line to wherever needed. He was in this hole for a whole month with two other men (one of them could not stand being shelled day after day) he was replaced. As my husband said the thing that got to him most was the stench of the dead, they could not bury them - not only the men but also the animals, cows, horses etc.

When at last they were freed from the Falaize Gap the Germans were still around. They would lay their lines during the day and the Germans would remove them at night.

One day the reached a bridge and a line had to be taken across. Bernard who was in charge of his section decided they would take an armoured car and the vehicle with the cable drum on it across the bridge, the vehicles giving the men cover as they went across. Unfortunately the cable drum jammed and came to a halt but the armoured car did not and left the men with very little cover and not knowing if the Germans were on the other side the men were stranded. Bernard with his men managed to free the cable on the drum and got the vehicle going again. Mission successful.

For this Bernard was awarded the British Empire Medal. He always said although he was in charge the men were just as entitled to it.

Bernard also was mentioned in despatches twice - but as he said every day they were being called on to perform deeds beyond the call of duty.

As with all, fighting men of those dreadful times, they tried only to speak of the good times and as Bernard said he had never before or since known comradeship like it.

He served from January 1940 to May 1946.

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