大象传媒

As far as dad's memory persists and is recalled by me, the following took place during the evacuation of the BEF from Dunkirk.

My dad-born August 1920- had done a tour in N France as one of the first waves of BEF to go to war. I recall little of the retreat to Dunkirk-no stories are passed on. However, on the beaches a certain Captain Terry, knowing my father was a capable swimmer, ordered Johnny Coleman to swim out for a boat/raft bobbing about 1/2 mile away. Assisted by another rating(unknown) dad brought said boat into shore where Cpt Terry insisted he and the other swimmer board the raft. The captain then controlled - at gun point - the boarding of the craft and they rowed, fully laden, to a nearby evacuation vessel. This may have been named the 'Warwick'. All boarded safely - except the last person - the said Capt. Terry who was shot by enemy fire( Stuka??) They were then ferried to the 'Pembroke' and so to home and a reward of 200 cigarettes!. Dad survived to marry on Christmas Day 1941 and was posted to India on the Boxing Day. A bout of malaria and severe deafness as result of 25 pounder artillery action means he suffered less than many. Both of his brothers did not survive the war -Bill died in 1942 off Greece and Chris was killed in N. France in June/July 1944. Stories of India and Burma are few and far between and at 83 he continues to live a full and active life in Co. Durham

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