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There was to be no easing into warfare for Ben when, aged 19, he was called up in February 1944. Within six months he was in action as a Bren gunner with the 55th Field Regiment, Guards Armoured Division, as it fought with the Second Army to outflank the Siegfried Line. It was a period of bitter fighting that Ben would like to forget — dead and mutilated comrades and the sheer waste of conflict. Relief came on Christmas Eve when they were pulled out of the line and transported back to a quiet sector, but it was a false hope. They were still unloading their kit when a despatch rider arrived and ordered them to load up again. Von Runstedt had launched his offensive through the Ardennes and Ben’s unit were rushed to the defence. He remembers the privations of a bitter winter campaign, sights such as German soldiers, some presumed to be snipers, frozen to death at their posts. It ended for them in Aachen, when the tannoys [loudspeakers] announced a ceasefire. From there it was briefly back to England before being shipped out to India. Emerging from a spell of jungle training on the Burmese border he was told he should have embarked for home weeks ago. Ben didn’t argue.

This story has been added to the site by Alison Tebbutt, Derby CSV Action Desk, on behalf of Norman Wilson and Andrew McCloy. The author has given his permission, and fully understands the site’s terms and conditions

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