´óÏó´«Ã½

Ronnie joined the Lincolns in 1942 at the age of 18 and completed his basic training in Lincoln, before being posted to Scotland for combined operations training. His unit landed in Normandy on ‘D-Day+4’ to encounter the battling German army at Caen. Whilst in France, Ronnie, a trained bren gunner, had a brief spell of secondment in a Canadian tank pending replacement of the gunner who had unwisely stuck his head out of the turret. This somewhat clandestine detachment was all too brief for Ronnie, who enjoyed the circle of friends — and Canadian hospitality — in which he found himself. He also liked the idea of the armour plating between himself and the schmeissers. Accompanied by his guardian angel in the advance to secure the Channel Ports in northern France, Belgium and Holland, he ended up in hospital with a minor injury to his ear when the chap he had been sitting next to on the edge of a trench was shredded by a missile they called a ‘Sobbing Sister’. Today, Ronnie regrets nothing save the respect and regard for others that illuminated his service life, but now seems a thing of the past.

This story was donated by Andrew McCloy and Norman Wilson and was submitted to the site by Alison Tebbutt, Derby CSV Action Desk. The author has given his permission and fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.