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This story has been submitted by Alison Tebbutt, Derby CSV Action Desk on behalf of George Harris. The author has given her permission and fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Bonfire day, 1942 was a very special day for me as it was the day when the War Office could no longer carry on World War Two without my service. Then eighteen, I was old enough to serve in H.M Forces. Living in Matlock, the norm was to be posted to the vicinity of Lands End or John O’Groats. However, surprise, surprise, I was ordered to report to Markeaton Park, Derby, for my basic six week training under the tender care of a certain Sergeant Swain (pronounced Swine). From there I was sent to the 55th R.A.C. Training Regiment at Elles (pronounced Hell’s) Barracks at Farnborough, Hants.

There I decided that I really wasn’t cut out for soldiering and developed into a sort of problem child. I was fairly good with a pen, but not much else. In desperation the 55th sent me as far away as possible to Helmsley in Yorkshire where the 15th / 19th Kings Royal Hussars had the dubious pleasure of sorting me out. They sounded a pit posh to accept the likes of me as they were huntin’ shootin’ and fishin’ types. Nobody seemed to like us much as, like gypsies, we trained all over the country in such places as Thetford, Whitby, Scotland, Northumberland, Yarmouth, Bury St. Edmunds etc. This nomadic existence became too good to be true, however, as on August 14, 1944 we were taken on an ‘all expenses paid’ short cruise to the beaches of Arromaches, Normandy, landing by the now famous Mulberry Harbour.

I could continue at great length as to the events which then followed. Suffice it to say that, by the following spring, we had advanced through France, Belgium, Holland and into Germany. One lasting memory is being on the Escaut Canal (Holland) bridgehead on September 17. We had been briefed on what was to happen and, as we had been told, the skies filled with the planes and gliders of the Airborne Paratroopers who were dropped close to Arnhem. As we all now know, the operation was not a total success and we then had to endure a bitterly cold winter.

In September 1984 (the 40th Anniversary) my wife and I were able to visit Arnhem. In the Oosterbeek War Cemetery are 1,746 graves. We found the grave of the brother of George Prince of Matlock, and there are graves of twin brothers killed on the same day. Every year there is a ceremony there, when the local children place flowers on every grave. They are taught never to forget. Following V.E. Day we had a few weeks respite at Kappeln, Germany, close to the Danish border. Our services were then required in the Canal Zone, in Egypt and Palestine, a bit more peaceful but not all that safe. We managed to get some football in and I made the Regimental team.

From Palestine I was sent back to Blighty to be demobbed at York in 1947 having served four and a half years. My job was still available in accounts at the offices of A. Johnson & Sons, Ladygrove Mills, Two Dales where I had started in 1938 at the age of fourteen at 12/6d. (62 1/2p) per week. I left there in 1958 to join the East Midlands Electricity Board and retired as Cashier for the Matlock District in 1986. My interests are F.O.S, gardening, D.I.Y., photography, and (dare I say it) being a staunch supporter (not a fair-weather one-like some) of Matlock Town F.C. for many years.

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