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15 October 2014
WW2 - People's War

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Driver L. Crabtree, Royal Engineers - 2123787

by Wakefield Libraries & Information Services

Contributed by听
Wakefield Libraries & Information Services
People in story:听
Leonard Crabtree
Location of story:听
Various
Background to story:听
Army
Article ID:听
A2879463
Contributed on:听
30 July 2004

Written by David Crabtree, Truro, Cornwall and added to the site by Christine Wadsworth, Senior Librarian, Wakefield Libraries and Information Services with his permission. The author fully understands the site terms and conditions.

This year, 2004, will mark the anniversaries of many WW2 episodes such as D Day, the liberation of Paris and Arnhem.
It is certainly a time for reflection.

Many of my generation, I am 61, have no memory of these events and have to rely on books, films and the experiences of our parents generation.

My Dad, Leonard Crabtree, was called up in October 1940 aged 32. He was a shop assistant in a provision merchants called the Globe Tea Company, later Duckworth's. It was typical of such shops in northern industrial towns in that era ie. the Maypole, Redmans and the Home and Colonial. He lived in Castleford, West Yorkshire.

For the record his unit was the 82 Armoured Engineer Squadron 6th Armoured Engineer Regiment, 1st Assault Brigade, Royal Engineers, 79 Armoured Division. I can recall his cap badge and the RE motto "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense". It was formed in 1943 and disbanded in 1945. It had a short but eventful life beginning with D Day and then fighting in Belgium, Holland and Germany.

It specialised, among other things, in bridging rivers, ravines and opening up routes through minefields. Dad was a driver bringing up supplies. He was never injured or wounded but a high proportion of the Unit were as recorded in a copy of the Unit diary which I still have.He had a small part in a titanic struggle.

I remember his daily routine, WOLFE. This was an aid to memory - Checking water, oil, fuel, lights and engine. He told me of gabions, fascines, crabs, flails, crocdiles, Avres and petards.

Dad was away for about five and a half years and then went back to the same firm and worked in Doncaster, Hemsworth and Castleford. Resuming civilian life must have been difficult for him as well as millions of other returning servicemen. For many life would never be the same again. To me dad was a stranger and I had to get used to him.

I remember that he attended many reunions in London. The Crown, Sovereign Street, rings a bell as does the name of Lionel Crate the Unit cook who organised them. For many years Major Poynder, the Unit commander attended.

Dad died in 1985 and I wish that I had showed more interest in that important time in his life. But of course it was an experience that we had not shared. Our experiences were fundamentally different, there being 35 years between us.

Dad gave me life, freedom and a strong Yorkshire accent, not a bad legacy. My reflections on his experience prompted by this website have been a pleasure and a duty. I am left with feelings of sadness, pride and a sustained blaze of memory.

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Forum Archive

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These messages were added to this story by site members between June 2003 and January 2006. It is no longer possible to leave messages here. Find out more about the site contributors.

Message 1 - Your dad's story

Posted on: 02 August 2004 by paul_i_w

I was interested in your dad's story. I am trying to do a bit of research into the RE tank squadrons that your dad was in. I know a couple of people who were in his unit who are still around; if you want me to see if they can tell you any more, I will ask them? Perhaps you could e-mail me? I was also curious about the diary you had with names?

Regards

Paul

Message 2 - Your dad's story

Posted on: 30 August 2004 by questbelisarius

Hi Paul
I had a reply from an R W Seth somewhere in the Bedford area who kindly sent me a photo of my father which I had not seen before.
Regrettably I have misplaced the letter and the photo.
To answer your question re the diary of 82 Assault Sq. This was I think a semi-official booklet which may have been written by Major Poynder. He certainly wrote a foreword. There are sketches by Lt Haward of actions from June 6th 1944 to the local ceasefire at Grossen heim on 04 May 1945
The booklet shows the names of the whole of the Sq including the various attached groups such as REME and a Lt Field Amb. Also given was the name of the Dutch interpreter, Van Der Wolf.
I also have a history of the Ist Assault Brig RE which gives the numbers of the other Sqs.
The first commander of the Sq, ie, 82 was killed on D-Day, ie, Major Elphinstone. I,m sure my dad said he was the Queens cousin but I cant be sure.
I also have a list of the 82 Sq veterans association but I am guessing it is 40 years old
Hope this has been of interest.

Dave

Message 3 - Your dad's story

Posted on: 30 August 2004 by questbelisarius

Message 4 - Your dad's story

Posted on: 01 September 2004 by paul_i_w

Hello Dave

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I know Bob Seth, he has been very helpful in my researches. I have the various books/booklets you mention. I was interested in the list of veterans. As old as it is, I guess I could check if any of them are still around. Is it at all possible I could have a copy?

Many thanks

Paul

Message 5 - Your dad's story

Posted on: 06 September 2004 by questbelisarius

Paul
I will of course send you a copy. Let me know how I can do this.

Bob Seth asked me for a photo of the squ personnel if I had one. There is one with Dad, Cliff Everingham, Walt Wise,M Sanderson,F.Clarke, B.Fell,and L Pattison.

I have lost his address. If you are in touch could you let him know. I think the address was Bedfordshire. I have two copies of the photo so that will not be a problem.

Regards

Dave Crabtree

Message 6 - Your dad's story

Posted on: 07 September 2004 by paul_i_w

Dave

My address is
38 Ludbrook Close
Needham Market
Suffolk
IP6 8EE

I think there is also a link to my email somwehere on this site!

I wonder, if you could possibly do a photocopy of the photograph you mention also?

Please let me know what the costs are as well.

I have e-mailed Bob to tell him to get in touch.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Regards

Paul

Message 7 - Your dad's story

Posted on: 23 September 2004 by paul_i_w

Dave

Bob Seth has written to you a couple of times - does he have the correct address? He asked me to try and contact you!

Regards

Paul

Message 8 - Your dad's story

Posted on: 03 October 2004 by questbelisarius

Paul,

Bob does have my current address. I sent you and Bob a short note with photos shortly after I came back from holiday.

This would have been about the 22nd of Sept. If you did get these letters ( yours contained a copy of the old comrades list) could you leave a short note on this site.

I can copy the list and some photos again so that is no problem if you have not received them.

Dave

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