大象传媒

Our final battle was on the dykes around Lake Comacchio on the Argenta Gap. Q Troop was split in half, our half was to man flat-bottomed, fold-up, canvas boats to cross canals and breaks in the dyke. The other half went to capture the bridge at Menate.

Whilst our boats were side by side (enabling us to cross a gap in the dyke) a mine was detonated, causing us to sustain a number of casualties. One was Lt Thompson who was wounded in Albania (in 3 months an officer was either killed, wounded or returned to unit). The objective of 40 Commando was to stop the bridge at Menate being blown and to take a pumping station. We were being fired on from the pumping station, daylight was coming and we had not reached our objective. Our signals troop contacted a nearby RAF station. When a plane came to bomb the power house and a tank that had been firing at us, it reminded me of seeing one of those old films where the help came just in time; we crossed the canal and took prisoners. Our losses were reported as 29 killed and 45 wounded some more than others. Any of our lads taken prisoner were released. We buried our dead.

After two days we returned to Bellaria, a tent was erected showing an old film. Whilst I was watching I had a tap on my shoulder to tell me my brother was outside in a rec vehicle. I had not seen him since he joined the Grenadier Guards.

We went to Ravenna which had been liberated. The NAAFI was called the Grosvenor, and to get a pint you had to have a dinner. My brother drank about seven pints, I ate the dinners! When my brother left he was going to cross the river Po into Austria. We were looking after prisoners; General Kesselring (the German鈥檚 senior officer) capitulated.

We returned to Naples and boarded the 鈥楥aernarfon Castle鈥� and then sailed to Southampton. We then moved to Basingstoke, were paid, and sent on leave. 40 Commando disbanded.

Returning from leave I was posted to 45 RM Commando which had returned from France, Holland, etc. We were in civilian billets in Eastbourne and Bexhill-on-Sea. I was in D Troop.

We moved to Horsham and our Captain was Ian Gourlay. He asked for volunteers to do a bugle routine, I and Jim Horsley (who was with me in 40 Commando) agreed and were posted to HQ Troop and the Commando was en-route to Hong Kong, 5 weeks journey. In Singapore I sounded off when Lord Mountbatten came aboard our aircraft carrier. Whilst in Hong Kong I was called on to sound off for the RAF at Happy Valley cemetery.

A recruiting party visited us with opportunities to join the Police and Fire Service. I passed for the Fire Service and served for 35 years.

My German bugle is now in the Royal Marine Museum in Eastney, Portsmouth.

For myself I have sounded off on every Armistice since 1945 in remembrance of those who gave their all and for the comradeship of those I served with from all walks of life, bless them all.

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Becky Barugh of the 大象传媒 Radio Shropshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of George Samuel Plim and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

See more of Sam's stories:

• 1) A Phoney War
• 2) Our first intake of evacuees
• 3) 鈥淲hoa Bob!鈥�
• 4)As long as I was fed I could do virtually anything
• 5)After one was shot the rest surrendered鈥�
• 7) 鈥楧on鈥檛 lose your head to an Italian Brunette!鈥�

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