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June 12th
‘Stayed late in bed, foot is getting better but still swollen. Dantan tells me that I am to stay until British troops reach Paris. God knows when that will be.’

June 13th
‘Nothing to report. Found an old English book this morning and read that all afternoon. My foot is coming on great.’

June 14th
‘Had a good day. Feed today of steak and onions followed by strawberries and cream. God knows where Dantan gets the stuff. Wish he could get me some fags.’

June 15th
‘Nothing much to report. I’m worried stiff over them at home. Would like to know what happened to the rest of the boys. Dantan said they found a flying suit not far from there yesterday. Wondered if it belongs to any of the boys. Haven’t any fags. It’s driving me crazy. Not allowed any fresh air but worse still - no fags.’

Arthur’s recollection in November 2004
‘I stayed there for two weeks. I’d been gasping for a cigarette because I had a 200 pack when I baled out but I had given them away because I suppose I was glad to give them something back. They didn¹t want my money. From my bedroom window I could see a cigarette in the gutter, so I went downstairs and this old fella was making toy boats up, model boats and there was stacks of wires there, so I took the wire and harpooned the cigarette, and I passed it up and it was great!’

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Becky Barugh of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Shropshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of Des Evans and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

See more of Des’s stories:

• Bale out!
• Missions from Woodhall Spa
• Tracers coming through the thatch
• I didn’t quite get the chop
• Little humour in adversity
• Ted Porters Crew
• The ‘Augsburg Raid’
• S/L Sherwood’s recommendation for the Victoria Cross
• The worst night of the War…
• The worst night of the War (Part 2)
• The worst night of the War (Part 3) - Crew
• The worst night of the War (Part 4) - Losses
• The worst night of the War (Part 5) — Extract from ‘the Berlin’ Raids’
• The worst night of the War (Part 6) — Bombers over Berlin
• The worst night of the War (Part 7) — Combat Report
• A Dedication to Skipper Wing Commander Ted Porter - Pause for Thought
• A Dedication to Skipper Wing Commander Ted Porter — A Navigators View of the Route to Heaven
• Did you know?
• Flight Operations carried out with Sgt. D.C Plaunt
• Flight Operations carried out by Sgt. J.J Johnson
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ after baling out on 9th — 10th June 1944
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ after baling out on the 9th - 10th June 1944 - Continued
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ - 11th June 1944
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ - 16th - 18th June 1944
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ - 19th — 23rd June 1944
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ — 24th August 1044
• ‘Our Heroes’

For further stories read ‘ACHIEVE YOUR AIM’ by Kevin Bending

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