- Contributed by听
- greenoliver
- People in story:听
- Oliver Sealey
- Location of story:听
- Northern France
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A2336096
- Contributed on:听
- 23 February 2004
My grandfther was Staff Sergeant Oliver Sealey of the 8th Worcesters, a light anti-tank unit.
They became part of the rear guard of the BEF.
Before the withdrawl, my grandfather was given leave home to Birmingham for the birth of my uncle. He returned to France upon hearing the withdrawl had commenced.
On getting into France he found everyone going north, whilst he was going south to find his unit. Grandfather had trained many of the young men, aged around 18-20 in that unit. They had been part of the rearguard and tried to stop the heavy German tanks. Their positions had been overrun, and many of those young men killed, injured or captured. Grandfather got to the line too late. He was ordered back to Dunkirk. The events "cut him up badly" to use my fathers words.
After Dunkirk his firm BSA, who were now designing and building a new generation of weapons, requisitioned him back to them, he being a highly skilled engineer, a turner, and so ended his military career.
A good man, always with that short sharp military NCO approach, he never discussed these events. After the war his 2nd daughter married a German ex-pow who was welcomed into the family.
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