大象传媒

Soon after landing in France on D Day, I had a few hours to wander when a sniper fired at me and the bullet passed by my ear and into the wall, it dropped onto the floor. I picked it up, but dropped it at once, as it was red hot; I knew how lucky I was. I moved away quickly.

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While in Africa, I met my brother William on two occasions in Bone (Algeria). We had a good time together. The following details were reported in a local newspaper....

"BIRTHDAY SURPRISE - BROTHERS MEET鈥�. When Pte. Walter Bennett, son of Mr + Mrs W. Bennett of 28 Stenhills Crescent, Runcorn, celebrated his 27th birthday during the early days of this month, he had what he describes as "the surprise of his life" - a visit from his brother, L/Bdr. William Bennett. Both are serving in North Africa, and their previous meeting - nearly two years ago - was in Runcorn. Their posts in North Africa are 180 miles apart.

In a letter home received this week, Walter writes: "Bill and I have met and had quite a happy time together. He came to this place with some stores and his officer located my unit. Bill slept at out billet for two nights. The best part is that we spent my birthday together. Another strange thing that he had been stationed at a place within 100 yards of where I worked, and we missed seeing each other there by only five days.鈥�

William, in his letter home, refers to the meeting as "his two happiest day in North Africa." He says they went to a cinema but he was not impressed with the film - "one of those love pictures when get on one's nerves."

The elder brother is serving in the Royal Engineers, and William is in the Royal Artillery, having been in the Forces for four and three years respectively. Previously they worked at the Camden Tannery. Walter went abroad twelve months ago, with his brother following during last February.

Two years ago, Walter was married to Miss Janet Hopley, daughter of Mr + Mrs Hopley of 20 Mason Street, Runcorn.

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After the Africa campaign was over, our company was returned to England. During leave and a sleeping out pass, my wife Janet conceived April 1944.

I was posted to Southend, then to an enclosed camp. I think Littlehampton, then to France on D Day.

I did not see my wife again until my son was 2 or 3 months old.

I think our wives at home had the hardest time because ten days passed before any knowledge of our whereabouts.

My wife had been 8 weeks without a word from me, when I went to Algeria in November 1942.

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During the D Day landings, we were unloading a ship a mile offshore. Four other ships were sunk during the night with the ship we were on in the middle. During the day a parachute mine passed from stern to stern without touching a detonator. It was blown up by naval M.T.B. The name of the ship was 鈥楨mpire Blessing鈥�.

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