大象传媒

Ernie was 23 in May 1945. He had been called up in 1940, aged 20, and served in the 51st (Leeds Rifles) Royal Tank Regiment as a Trooper.

He served in North Africa and then Italy. Ernie recalls vividly having to act as a stretcher bearer, carrying injured people from a church, over a bridge, to a safer area. The church and bridge were under shellfire and the roof had been blown off the church.

Ernie was honoured by the Canadian Infantry for his efforts and received a maple leaf clasp.
He recalls finding out that war was finally over, after years of longing for an end to it all. He was in Italy and his battalion had a victory meal where the officers served their troops!

Ernie found it very difficult to return to London, so bomb-damaged and silent. He describes being at a loose end and feeling very lost. It took a long time to settle back into civilian life.

He now lives at The Royal Star and Garter Home in Surbiton, and describes the care he receives there to be 鈥渁bsolutely splendid.鈥�

Image: Ernie in Italy in the 1940鈥檚 during the war, and Ernie now

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