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Richard (my grandfather from Ron his eldest) was a none commissioned officer in the Army, was he and his unit were sent to France fighting the Germans, and had to retreat back to Dunkirk with some of there section wounded, he and his men required a vehicle to transport the injured soliders back towards DunKirk, when they were ordered by a commissioned officer who had stopped them, to give the vehicle over so that the commissioned officers could retreat quicker.

Needless to say this did not go down well with him or his unit, nevertheless Richard and his unit did manage to escape Dunkirk.

Richard was then sent to North Africa on a convoy of six ships that left England, only Richards ship got through as most of the other were either bombed or torpedo. And he told us of some horrific stories where they had to turn the guns on those burning in the water after the ship’s caught fire and were sinking.

He served in the North Africa campaign, not sure where he went from there, but the commissioned officers who had stolen the vehicle in Dunkirk did not survive North Africa, so he told my father!!!

After the war was over, all none commissioned officers were demoded back to normal ranks, which Richard considered was grossly unfair treatment.

Richard died in 1983 at the age of 73. Richard was I believe the youngest son of 12 boys, and one sister. I am very interested in finding any video footage that Richard maybe on for family history…

David Hone

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