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Introduction

This article has been written by Joseph Ritson, a volunteer story-gatherer on behalf of the ����ý Radio Cumbria CSV Action Desk. It is submitted with the permission of Mr Billy Pye from Whitehaven, Cumbria who is a World War Two veteran. The author fully understands the terms of the ����ý “People’s War” website.

During World War Two, Billy was in the Corps of Signals (155 Line Section / 16 Air Formation Signals), installing and maintaining telephone cables. Billy took part in he Normandy Landings, arriving in France at ‘Omaha Beach’ on 8 June 1944 (D-Day +2). Billy is a member of the Normandy Veterans Association (West Cumbria) Branch. He regularly takes part in World War Two Commemorations, as well as attending social events organised by the Normandy Veterans with his wife Margaret.

Billy said there were good and bad things that happened in World War Two. He said he prefers not to talk about the bad things of the war, but that he had some happy memories that he would be happy to share.

Seeing the Allied ‘Top Brass’ at Versailles

This is how Billy explained he saw many of the famous Allied Generals on the same day:

“One of the most memorable times for me was the day I saw Eisenhower, Montgomery, Patton, Bradley and all the ‘Top Brass’. It was at Versailles, the Hotel Trianon I think.

Paris was liberated at the end of August 1944, and it was not long after that. So, it must have been at the end of August, or early September, in 1944. Anyhow, it was a lovely sunny day. I remember that.

I was in the Corps of Signals and it was our job to put telephone lines in and look after them. There was this one particular day we were working at Versailles and running the cables into this building we had just taken over. There was a gang of us, and we had dug a trench.

We were just getting on with our job as usual. Then, round the corner of this building came about 20 or 30 high-ranking officers. Of course, we recognised Eisenhower straight away, and then Montgomery, Bradley and Patton came right past where we were working. So, of course we stopped and saluted! The only one who spoke was Eisenhower. He said, “Carry on boys!”

I think it must have been the first day they had gone there because we hadn’t got the telephone lines in yet. It was the 1st SHAEF Headquarters they had just taken over, the Hotel Trianon. It was quite something seeing all the ‘Top Brass’ at one go like that!

The Glenn Miller Orchestra

Billy also told me about music and dancing of the war years. One of the things he mentioned was about the time he saw the Glenn Miller Orchestra:

“In December 1944 I managed to get a week’s leave. Well, because we worked closely with the Yanks, the American Leave Centre was Paris. We weren’t that far away, so that’s where we went. I went with a pal of mine.

Who was playing there in Paris at that time? It was none other but the Glenn Miller Band. He wasn’t there because that was the time he went missing, never to be seen again. But we heard the Orchestra just the same and it was tremendous hearing them!

With me being a big Dance Band fan, it was out of this world. Of course, everyone was talking about Glenn Miller and his Band at that time. For me, it was the ultimate, and something I’ve never forgotten!”

Company Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis, VC

On the same evening, an observant Billy happened to be sitting with his mates in the NAAFI and saw a fellow at the next table wearing an unusual medal. It turned out to be CSM Stan Hollis VC, the only man to win the Victoria Cross on D-Day 6 June 1944. This is what Billy told me:

“Well, after seeing the Glenn Miller Band, we went to the NAAFI and we all sat down at our table. At the next table I saw this Sergeant Major and I saw what he was wearing. So, I went over, saluted and I asked him “Is that what I think it is sir?”

The CSM was very friendly even though he was a much higher rank than we were. He said to me, “What do think it is?” So, I said it looked like a VC, and it was! It turned out he was Sergeant Major Stan Hollis who came from Middlesborough. He was the only man to win the VC on D-Day. He’d landed at Gold Beach while I landed at Omaha Beach with the Yanks a couple of days later.

Anyway, despite the difference in rank, he was really friendly. He shook hands with us and we all congratulated him. CSM Hollis was in the ‘Green Howards’. This was another memorable occasion I remember from the war, especially coming right after seeing the Glenn Miller Orchestra!

The Airborne Drop for Arnhem

Another event Billy remembers from September 1944 was seeing the Gliders taking the Airborne Troops to Arnhem. This is what he told me:

“Another little thing I remember that was very uplifting at the time was seeing all the aeroplanes and gliders on their way to Arnhem. Of course, it didn’t quite work out as everybody had hoped, but it was such a tremendous thing seeing all our aircraft in the sky like that.

I was in Ghent at the time and we stood and watched them all going over. Since the war, I think I’ve met about three other lads who were in Ghent at the same time as I was. It was only when we got talking about it at one of the social ‘dos’ that we realised we’d all been there on the same day.

There was this one time I was talking to a couple of other lads about the gliders going over Ghent heading towards Arnhem. They were Jack Cannon and Harold Drake. I met them through the ‘Veterans’ and of course we all shared our experiences. When I first met Harold and we got on about being in Ghent at the same time and he said, “Did you see the lead plane get shot down?” Well, I hadn’t seen this, or at least I don’t remember it. This other fellow Jack Cannon I think he’d maybe seen it as well, but I hadn’t.”

Conclusion

Billy and his wife Margaret took part in the 60th Anniversary Commemorations of the Normandy Landings in France in June 1944. On 6 June 1944 Billy spoke briefly with HM Queen Elizabeth, HRH Prince Philip, Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mrs Cheri Blair among others (See Article Reference ID A4483091).

On 26 June 2005, Billy marched in the official county of Cumbria ‘Victory Parade’ commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War Two. Billy and Margaret have also attended a number of Remembrance events, honouring the memory of those whose Ultimate Sacrifice led to the Final Victory.

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