大象传媒

This being the story of Alick Thomas Theobald. Born 1923 , Died 1990. Joined up to fight in 1942. Regiment 15th Reconnaissance. Rank Trooper. No. 14275781..
The story is being submitted by his daughter Allison, and is backed up by letters received during the war from the battlefield following Alicks injuries.
Evidence also taken from book " The Scottish Lion on Patrol", by Capt. W Kemsley, and Capt. M.R. Riesco.
Alick was wounded in action in Normandy on route to Les Andeleys, following the river Seine, his regiment being led by Lieutenatnt Dalton. They were being fired at by the enemy from cliffs above. A mortar landed on Alicks armoured vehicle and blew back into his face and body taking his eye and part of his forehead, exposing his brain. He fell from his vehicle and was immediately shot from behind by the enemy.
Covered in shrapnel wounds and his face and head badly injured he was rescued by Sgt. T Craig. Trooper Ellis was mortally wounded also. Sgt. T Craig bravely led his men to destroy enemy machine gun posts and left his own armoured car under fire to evecuate the wounded crew of the leading car, of which Alick was part of. Sgt. Craig was awarded the Military medal for his bravery.
Alick was flown back to England and his most vivid memory of being rescued was in asking his rescuers to "take of my boots", which he said seemed to be the best way to make him more comfortable!. He was taken to Bath hospital and then transferred to East Grinstead hospital for various operations.
He recieved a letter from Liet Dalton, written on the battlefields, informing him of the progress his regiment were making and this details what happened when Alick was injured.
The telegram stating that "your son is seriously ill in Royal United Hospital, Bath, with Compound fracture of the skull and gunshot wounds to legs and arms", was received by his mother Fanny Theobald at Page Croft, Chiddingstone Hoath, Edenbridge, kent. He was placed on the dangerously ill list on 25th August 1944. He recovered but lost the sight of one eye and was declared 80% unable.
After several breakdowns he eventually married Ruby Staplehurst from Hever Kent, and had three children. His war wounds however caught up with him and he became frail and childlike in his early 60's
and died at the age of 67 following a brain abcess.

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