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In June 1944 I was in Hackney hospital for a short time. In the next bed to me was a soldier with a wounded hand, as we talked he told me how he was wounded. It seems that he was a parachutist in a special unit, and was dropped behind enemy lines the day before D Day.
As he was descending the Germans began firing on him, one bullet hit him in the hand and smashed it rather badly. So he was out of action before he even landed.
Luckily he met up with the main units and he was repatriated home to Hackney hospital.
I left hospital after a few days, but my new friend had to remain. I returned to Northampton as soon as possible for it was a lot safer because of the flying bombs. My friend remarked that it was as dangerous in hospital as in the front line! He had a point……. I lost touch with my wounded soldier in hospital, but I hope that he made a full recovery, and had a long and happy life.

Soon after the D Day landings I lost a great friend. His name was Reg Lack; he was the son of our next door neighbours in Semilong Road.
Although I was only 11 years old at the time and Reg was older we were great friends and buddies, and spent some time together until he went to war.
It seems that he was shot by a German sniper outside Caen and was being carried back to a field dressing station when his brother saw him. He was told by Reg’s mates that it was only a leg wound and he should be OK; but unluckily for Reg the bullet had severed an artery and he died before he could be operated on.
Sadly Mr and Mrs Lack lost a lovely son and me a great friend.

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