大象传媒

(This story was contributed by Gerald Bradley,74 years old. It is told mostly in his own words)

Our own family were leaving home to join up or do war work in England .There were 11 children in all and I was about 8 years old. One brother Sandy joined the Air Force,a sister May was in the A.T.S.

Desmond had joined the RUR rifles at 16 and a half years of age. Like a lot of young men he lied about his age in order to sign up. Tragically he was killed in action 10 days after landing in Normandy,France aged 19 and a half .

Before going off to school one morning a letter arrived by post,I opened it and read the contents . It was from his O/C to tell us Desmond had been killed and explaining the circumstances of how it had happened.

This was unusual as most people just received a curt note to say their son or husband had been killed in action. At this time the war office had not officially notified us.

On the way to school I called in at my fathers place of work and gave him the letter. In school I told the headmaster about it and he told us all to bow our heads. I glanced up momentarily and saw the tears falling from his eyes.

His Lieutenant wrote;
'His death was instantaneous as he was pierced under the left armpit by a shell splinter. As soon as I heard of the tragedy I went to where he lay and I was struck by the serene expression on his face .......he was like a sleeping child.'

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