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This story was put on to the People's War website by Louise Angell of the CSV Action Desk at 大象传媒 Radio Derby on behalf of James Beardsley. The author understands the sites terms and conditions.

This is the story by J. Beardsley, ex Royal Engineers, about four men of Ilkeston who are no longer with us but must never be forgotten.

I left Granby School in 1930 for Hallcroft School. There I befriended George Daniels until we left and went our different ways in 1933. I did not see him again for about seventy years until a Historians meeting in Long Eaton. Sadly he died a year later.

This is the story of:

SGT. G. DANIELS M.M OF THE S.A.S.
He was with the Long Range Desert group who destroyed enemy aircraft on the ground. When Italy capitulated, he parachuted into Northern Italy on a misson to stem the flow of german men and materials. They did an excellent job blowing up trains and killing troops. After seventy three days behind the lines, he returned and was immediately awarded the M.M by General Alexander. Before D Day he was in France with the 'Marquis' creating problems for the Germans. he finished taking the German surrender in Norway.

SGT. ERIC STANLEY HART M.M OF THE ROYAL INNISKILLIN FUSILIERS (ALWAYS KNOWN AS NOBBY).
he went to Hallcroft School and before the war we enjoyed the dancing circuit. He took part in the Madagascar Landing, moved to Egypt, the Western Desert, Sicily and Italy. Sadly he was killed at Anzio and is buried in a cemetery on the road to Rome.

GUARDSMAN WALTER SMART COOKE.
He was in my class at Hallcroft and played the tenor saxophone in a band on the dancing circuit. When war broke out he went in the Guards and played in their band. I saw him on leave once - what a fine figure he looked - over six feet tall in dress uniform. He went out to Egypt, through the western desert and sadly was killed in the attack on the German Mareth Line in Tunisia. Only his saxophone came home.

CORPORAL JACK CHAMBERS, SHERWOOD FORRESTERS REGIMENT.
When I was sent to a training camp in Italy to train troops in the the art of dealing with German mines, i was told of a tragic accident in which thirty one out of thirty two N.C.O.S died. After the war I worked with Jack and he told me how he was the sole survivor by ducking behind a desk but still leaving his hand and arm exposed. These were badly injured and he spent months in hospital where a medical officer worked on his injuries. he finally made a full recovery. sadly, Jack died some years ago.

ALL THESE LADS WERE HEROES AND SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

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