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My husband was born in Withington in Shropshire, and he had a very rough time during the war, he was in the D-day landings, and was one of the first troops to liberate Belsen. He didn’t tell me anything about what he saw in Belsen — he said it was just too horrible to tell.

He did tell me one episode though: the whole platoon had to go into a field one day- they must have been doing a reconnaissance I think - I imagine about 20 went in. When they got in, they realised the field mined; only 2 got out alive- Marsh was one; and one other - that’s all two survived out of twenty men!
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 Mary Pritchard and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

See more of Mary’s stories:

• Worse than hell at times
• So many don’t realise
• Spending a well-earned penny
• Friends together
• A real rough diamond
• Labelled
• Love binds forever faithful hearts
• Non-Fraternisation
• Thanksgiving service
• How to use this book
• Clothing books
• Marsh’s Medals
• Joining Up
• One to keep
• Names in a hat
• Tyne Tees Badge
• Cards to Mother
• 11th Armoured Division Badge
• Flensburg Christmas 1945
• KSLI Badge
• Homeguard Arm Band
• Driving permit
• A very hard worker
• Mary’s Medals
• Marsh’s Evacuees
• Evacuees on the farm
• Milk from cows?
• Marsh’s Parents with the Evacuees
• Me and the girls
• All of us
• ATS Cap Badge
• Mary B. Pritchard

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