- Contributed by听
- Market Harborough Royal British Legion
- People in story:听
- Kenneth West
- Location of story:听
- Normandy
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A5679994
- Contributed on:听
- 10 September 2005
This story is submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by a member of Market Harborough Branch, Royal British Legion on behalf of Kenneth West and has been added to the site with his permission. Mr West fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.
Well Prepared
by Kenneth West
For over a year we had been preparing for the 鈥淪econd Front鈥. Trained to the Nth degree and superbly fit, the time had now come. Tomorrow we embark and then 鈥淩amps down鈥 - inwe go!!! But first there were items of personal kit to be issued. The army with it鈥檚 meticulous attention to detail would ensure that we would be well provided for.
New assault type Gas-masks, special wound dressings, foot powder, water sterilization tablets, small 3 legged 鈥淭ommy Cooker鈥 and solid fuel tablets, tin of tea/sugar/milk powder, packet army biscuits (hard tack), 1 emergency ration (tin of concentrated chocolate), tin 50 cigs, book matches and 1 pick or shovel were also issued. We were required to fill in the page marked WILL in our AB 64 and paybooks then to be handed in. On their return we found that 1/- had been deducted for 鈥淏lankets, soldiers for the use of, 1鈥. When the CQMS was asked why we should pay for an army blanket, he replied - 鈥淭hat is now your personal property, to keep you warm when you鈥檙e alive and to bury you in if you die - any further questions?鈥 - there were no further questions.
Whilst in Normandy, our daily needs were catered for by the 14 man packs, usually brought to us at night. Carefully shared out, we each received 1 tin Meat and veg, 1/7 of a tinned pudding, 6鈥欌 rasher bacon, cube of porridge, pkt hard tack, tablesp. Tea/sugar/milk, 7 boiled sweets, 1 bar Bournville chocolate, 7 cigs, 1 book matches and 3 sheets of khaki IZAL toilet paper. Whilst the edible contents provided a well balanced diet, the 3 sheets of 鈥淎rmy Form Blank鈥 did cause us some concern.
So the dour struggle continued, with many shining examples of strained rearguard actions, especially in the CAEN area, but thanks to the 鈥淏ack-room boys鈥 at the War Office and their excellent forward planning down to the minutest detail, within 3 months the Normandy Campaign was finally polished off.
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