- Contributed by听
- reflection
- People in story:听
- John Hammond
- Location of story:听
- Sicily
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A2336799
- Contributed on:听
- 24 February 2004
Just before my father died in 1995, he related a story to me which must have been on his mind since the incident took place.
He was on one of the landing craft that was taking them to the landing beach. They were coming under heavy enemy fire (German, not Italian). The pilot of the landing craft was anxious to get away, so when they lads were dropped into the sea it was quite deep. The depth of the water and the weight of all the equipment they were wearing meant that they struggled to reach the shore. As they reached the shore the soldier next to my father was shot and killed.
Despite the heavy fire my father bent over the dead soldier, undid his tunic and took his pack of Woodbines.
My father felt guilty about doing this until his dying day. He wept as he told me the story.
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Story with photo