大象传媒

"This story was submitted to the People's War site by Jean Brown and has been added to the website on behalf of Edward Frederick Albert Drake with his permission and he fully understands the site's terms and conditions".

I started service as a private in the Queens Royal Regiment, Guildford. It was supposed to be for six months but it lasted 7 years. After fighting the Germans and being routed I got sent back to England on the 2nd June. There were very few left on the beaches and the bravery of the few sailors who helped us to the boat was outstanding.

My first story was in Normandy and not far from the beaches. We were being heavily shelled and I was in a hole taking shelter. I looked up and there was a jeep above and sitting on the back seat was Richard Dimbleby describing the scene on a mike obviously to the 大象传媒. The indifference he showed to the devastation around him was unbelievable. I have always wanted to tell his sons what a brave man he was.

I have always had a high regard for General Monty, he was every where. He allowed the Germans to break through to Falaise and then closed the ring behind them, closed the gap, withdrew all the troops except the artillery and then pounded them for two days. When we went through afterwards there wasn't a man or beast alive. We had perfected this exercise in Wales months before the Second Front.

I saw many other events of outstanding bravery and feel proud of being part of the British Army. However, my last story was one I shall never forget.

As a radio operator I was selected with a few Generals and a small number of troops to be the first party of British to go to Berlin. When we arrived after being held up at Helmstech in pouring rain, the Russian guards let us through. The scenes in Berlin were unbelievable. There was chaos. We set up our radio station in the middle of the Olympic Stadium.

There seemed to be chaos everywhere. There were groups of Russians fighting Americans. I saw Russians sexually assaulting women in the street frequently. I tried to stop it but the Russians felt they had a right to do this.

Cigarettes bought anything you could want in Berlin. It had replaced currency.

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