Warrant Officer Norman Cyril Jackson VC

I do not intend to write all stories about the brave men who won the Victory Cross, but there is one man who deserves more recognition for you the reader. His name was Norman Cyril Jackson. He was born in Ealing, London on April 8th 1919. Through problems he was adopted by a family named Gunter, when he was only a few weeks old. They set him on the right path in his life and he passed for the grammar school at Twickenham. When at school Norman was always interested in engineering and on leaving school he carried on this interest by becoming a Fitter and Turner with an Engineering Company. In 1939, when the dark clouds of war loomed he joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve. He was trained at Halton and Hednesford where he passed the RAF Engineering exams.
Promoted to Sergeant he was Flight Engineer on a Lancaster bomber on many bombing missions over Germany. The mission that won Sergeant Jackson his Victoria Cross happened on the night of 26/27 April 1944 when 215 Lancaster bombers and 11 Mosquitoes raided Schweinfurt. The path finding aircraft inaccurately marked the target, also contending with strong headwinds and enemy fighters attacking constantly. With all this to contend with the bombs were dropped successfully. The aircraft was climbing out of the target area when it was attacked by an enemy fighter at about 20,000 feet. The Captain took evading action at once but the enemy fighter with a burst of his machine gun secured hits on the Lancaster’s starboard wing which started a fire between the inner engine and the plane’s fuselage. During the engagement with the fighter, Sergeant Jackson was wounded by splinters in his right leg and shoulders. Although shaken up, he told the Captain he could deal with the fire on the wing. The Captain gave him permission to deal with the fire.
Pushing a small fire extinguisher in the top of his life jacket and putting on his parachute pack. Sergeant Jackson jettisoned the escape hatch above the pilots head. He then started to climb out of the cockpit and along the fuselage to the starboard wing. Before he left the fuselage his parachute opened and the whole canopy and rigging spilled into the cockpit. Unbelievably Sergeant Jackson continued on trying to reach the fire. The Pilot, Navigator and Bomb Aimer gathered the parachute together and leased it gently out has the sergeant crawled along to his objective. With the plane travelling at 200 mph and with strong headwinds Sergeant Jackson fell from the fuselage onto the wing. He reached out and got a hold on the air intake and succeeded in hanging on, but unfortunately he lost the fire extinguisher. The fire by now was spreading rapidly and Sergeant Jackson was getting severely burned to his face and hands etc. Unable to hang on anymore he was swept away over the starboard wing with his parachute trailing behind. He survived the parachute landing but broke his ankle when he hit the ground and suffering with burns he was captured and interred where he was put in a hospital for ten months recovering from his burns.
With the fire spreading rapidly the Captain of the Lancaster gave the order to abandon the aircraft. Four of the crew landed safely but the Captain of the Lancaster, Flying Officer F. Miffin and the rear gunner were killed. Sergeant Jackson’s experience did not come to light until after the war when prisoners were repatriated back to England. Sergeant Jackson had said nothing about what had happened but the navigator Flight Lieutenant Higgins and the other survivors of the Lancaster told the story and they recommended him for the Victoria Cross. He was awarded the Victoria Cross in October 1945. After the war He married raised a family but always struggled with the injuries he received during the war. Norman Cyril Jackson died in March 1994 and his buried in Middlesex England.
One in this present day cannot visualize the sheer bravery of the RAF aircrews during World War Two. I and you the reader must be quite astonished to read and comprehend about such a very brave man as Warrant Officer Norman Cyril Jackson VC.

Alan

Men Who Have Won The Victoria Cross Twice

The Victoria Cross takes precedence over all other medals for bravery. For over a hundred years out of all the millions of men who have served in the British and Commonwealth military services. The Victoria Cross was only awarded 1356 times, three of which were awarded twice to three men.
The first to receive the Victoria Cross twice was Arthur Martin- Leake, who was at Standen near Ware, Hertfordshire. He was educated at Westminster School and went on to study Medicine at University College Hospital. After his qualification he joined the Imperial Yeomanry. Later he joined the South African Constabulary as a Surgeon Captain attached to the 5th Field Ambulance. He won his first Victoria Cross at the age of 27 during the second Boer War on the 8th February 1902 at Vlakfontein. During all the fighting at Vlakfontein on the 8th February 1902. Surgeon-Captain Martin-Leake went out to a badly wounded man to give him aid under a hail of heavy fire from about 40 Boers at 100 yards range. Not content with this he then went on to give assistance to a wounded officer, and, whilst trying to place him in a safe and comfortable position. He himself was shot three times, but although in considerable pain he stayed with the injured men until relieved. Martin-Leake while convalescing from his wounds he qualified as a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in1903.
On the outbreak of World War I he returned to service, as a lieutenant with the 5th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, on the Western Front. It was here on the Western Front that he won his second VC, at the 40 years of age. The Citation reads Lieutenant Arthur Martin Leake, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was awarded the Victoria Cross on 13th May, 1902, is granted a Clasp for conspicuous bravery in the present campaign. For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty throughout the campaign, especially during the period 29th October to 8th November, 1914, near Zonnebeke, in rescuing, whilst exposed to constant fire, a large number of the wounded who were lying close to the enemy’s trenches. He was promoted captain in March 1915and major in November of the same year. In April 1917 he took command of 46th Field Ambulance at the rank of lieutenant Colonel. He retired from the army after the war and resumed his company employment in India until he retired back to England in1937. During the Second World War he commanded an ARP post
He died, aged 79, at High Cross, Hertfordshire on the 22nd June 1953, and was cremated with his remains buried in St John’s Church, High Cross. He is commemorated with a plaque and a tree at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. What a very brave man
The second double Victoria Cross winner was Noel Godfrey Chavasse, born in Oxford on the 9th November 1884. He was the younger Identical twin of the Rev Francis Chevasse who later became the Bishop of Liverpool. Noel was educated at Magdalen College School in Oxford then went on to Trinity College Oxford where he graduated with first class honours and stayed on at Oxford to study medicine. In 1912 Noel Chavasse passed his final exams and became a qualified surgeon working in Liverpool. In 1913 he applied and was accepted in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Lieutenant. One year later the First World War had broken out and he was attached to the 1/10th (Scottish Battalion) of the King’s (Liverpool Regiment) At Hooge in Belgium in June 1915, Captain Noel Chavasse was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry. At Guillemont in France on the 9th and 10th of August He received the Victoria Cross for tending wounded soldiers in the open all day under heavy fire from the German lines. Although wounded in the side by a splinter from a shell, he still carried on helping and carrying wounded men back to safety. Sometimes these brave deeds were just 25 yards from the enemy trenches. The bar to his Victoria Cross came at Wieljte, in Belgium during the period 31st July to the 2nd August 1917 1907 for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. Although severely wounded Captain Chavasse continued to perform his duties and went out repeatedly to tend wounded soldiers. Many of these soldiers would have died of their wounds in the bad weather conditions if it hadn’t have been for the brave actions of Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse. Later in the day he was so exhausted and badly wounded, that he died in a medical dressing station. It is strange that the doctor tending to Captain Chavasse when he died was Martin Leake the other double VC winner. Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse is buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Vlamertinge Belgium. One can only visualize what a brave man he was.
The third and last man awarded a double Victoria Cross was Charles Upham, born at 32 Gloucester Street in Central Christchurch on 21 September 1908. He was educated in private schools before going to Canterbury Agricultural College (now known as Lincoln University) where he earned a diploma in agriculture in 1930. At the age of 30 when war loomed in September 1939 Charles Upham Upham enlisted in the 2nd NZ Expeditionary Force and was posted to the 20th Canterbury-Otago Battalion, which was part of the New Zealand Division Despite the fact that he already had five years experience in New Zealand’s Territorial Army, in which he held the rank of sergeant, he signed on as a private. He was promoted to Lance Corporal but at first declined a place in an Officer Cadet Training Unit (OCTU). In December, he was promoted to Sergeant and a week later sailed for Egypt for further training. In July 1940, he was finally persuaded to join an OCTU. In March 1941 Charles Upham no a 2nd Lieutenant left with his battalion to Greece then withdrawn to Crete it was here at Crete that he gained his first Victoria Cross.
German paratroopers were dropped on the Maleme airfield and after a desperate situation of close fighting they took the airfield. During this fighting Upham led his platoon and soon silenced an enemy machine gun post. A cottage nearby taken over by the Germans fired a stream of bullets at Upham. He made use of the scanty cover and lobbed two hand grenades through the window and the German guns went quiet after the explosions. Lt Upham and his platoon attacked another machine gun post and again Upham from 30 yards lobbed two grenades into the machine gun nest scoring a direct hit. During the next 48 hours of non-stop fighting against the enemy, Upham was blown up by a mortar shell, shot in the foot and wounded in his shoulder. Despite these wounds Upham fought on. The following day he saw a neighbouring company in danger of being cut off by the advancing Germans. He single handedly fought through to them and escorted them back to safety. Later that day two enemy machine gunners were causing trouble, Upham twisted and fell to the ground. The Germans with machine pistols at the ready and certain that he was dead. How wrong they were Upham shot them dead at close range with his rifle. With his wounds, fever and fatigue which had drained his strength Charles Upham was evacuated back to Egypt on a British Destroyer where he spent time in hospital. It was here that Lt. Charles Upham learned he had been awarded his first Victoria Cross.

A year after Charles Upham was evacuated to Egypt; he was promoted to a Captain and sent with his battalion for operations against the Axis forces in the Western Desert. During operations with his company, they were involved in the attack on El Ruweisat Ridge on the night of 14th-15th July, 1942. In spite of being twice wounded, when crossing open ground swept by enemy fire to inspect his forward sections guarding the British mine-fields and again being wounded when he completely destroyed an entire truck load of German soldiers with hand grenades. Captain Upham insisted on remaining with his men to take part in the final assault. During the opening stages of the attack on the ridge Captain Upham’s company formed part of the reserve battalion, but, when communications with the forward troops broke down, he was instructed to send up an officer to report on the progress of the attack. Captain Upham went out himself armed with a Spandau gun, after several sharp encounters with enemy machine gun posts he succeeded in bringing back vital information needed. Just before dawn the rest of the New Zealand reserve battalion was ordered forward, but just before reaching their objective they came under heavy fire from strongly defended machine gun posts and tanks. Captain Upham saw the seriousness of the situation and without hesitation led his Company in a determined attack on the two nearest strongpoints on the left flank of the sector. His voice could be heard above the din of battle cheering on his men and, in spite of the fierce resistance of the enemy and the heavy casualties on both sides, the objective was captured.
Captain Upham, during the engagement, himself destroyed a German tank and several guns and vehicles with grenades and although he was shot through the elbow by a machine gun bullet and had his arm broken, he went on again to a forward position and brought back some of his men who had become isolated. He continued to dominate the situation until his men had beaten off a violent enemy counter-attack and consolidated the vital position which they had won under his inspiring leadership. Exhausted by pain from his wounds and weak from loss of blood, Captain Upham was then removed to the Regimental Aid Post Not content in what he had endured, immediately after his wound had been dressed, he returned to his men, staying with them all day long under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire. He was again severely wounded and being now unable to move. He was finally captured by the enemy when his gallant company now reduced to only six survivors was overrun by superior enemy forces. Captain Charles Upham, for his actions over the two days was awarded a bar to his Victoria Cross. During his captivity he attempted to escape on numerous occasions before being sent to the notorious Colditz Castle where he remained until the liberation. After the war he returned to New Zealand and became a successful farmer. When poor health forced him to retire in 1992 he went to live in Christchurch. He died in Canterbury on 22 November 1994 and his burial service in Christchurch Cathedral was conducted with full military honours and was buried in the graveyard of St Paul’s Church Papanui. Again, here was another very brave man who had total disregard for his own life, to help others

Alan

Stanley Hollis VC.

Unbelievably, there was only one Victoria Cross awarded on D-Day June 6th 1944. It was won by Company Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis. He was born in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire where he grew up and attended school. In 1929 Stanley Hollis was apprenticed in a shipping Company to learn to be a navigation officer. During the course of this learning he went on a few voyages around the coast of West Africa. Unfortunately for Stanley He took ill and due to this illness he was forced to leave the merchant navy. Returning back to Middlesbrough area, where he had various jobs and later married and had a son and daughter. When, the dark clouds of war threatened Great Britain, Stanley Hollis Joined the local Territorial unit the 4th battalion of the Green Howards. When World War finally broke out he was mobilized and joined the 6th Battalion of the Green Howards. They were eventually sent out to France in 1940 as part of the British Expeditionary Force under Lord Gort. Somebody in high authority must have seen Stanley Hollis had what it takes, because he rose through the ranks very quickly and was a sergeant at the time of the evacuation at Dunkirk.
After Dunkirk, the Green Howards were strengthened and re-equipped and sent out to the Middle East and were part of the British 8th Army that fought and chased back the Afrika Corps from El Alamein to Tunis and the ultimate victory in the North Africa campaign Before the invasion of Sicily in 1943, Stanley Hollis was promoted to Company Sergeant Major. He was later wounded at the battle of Primosole Bridge and spent time in hospital recuperating this did not keep Stanley out of the war. On June 6th 1944 still a company sergeant major with the Green Howards he was in one of the first Assault crafts that hit Gold Beach in Normandy. After the initial resistance the regiment moved in land. The company commander asked Stanley Hollis to go with him to reconnoiter two German pill boxes which had been by-passed by the attacking force. Moving very quickly they rushed the two pillboxes with guns blazing taking all but five occupants as prisoner. They then dealt with the second pillbox taking twenty six prisoners along with clearing out an enemy occupied trench
The adrenalin must have been pumping hard into his veins, because later that day on the 6th June, he led an attack on an enemy position. The position contained a field gun and carefully camouflaged Spandau machine guns. After withdrawing under heavy fire, he learned that two of his men had been left behind. He told his Commanding Officer a Major Lofthouse. Sir, I took them in and I will try to get them out. Taking a grenade from one of his men, Hollis carefully observed the enemy’s pattern of behavior and threw the grenade at the most opportune moment that came. Unfortunately, he had forgotten to prime the grenade, but the enemy did not know this and kept their heads down waiting for it to explode. By the time they realized their mistake Hollis was on top of them and had shot them all. In September 1944 while still in France he was wounded in the leg and was evacuated to England. On October 10th 1944 he was decorated with the Victoria Cross by King George V1
After the war, when back in civilian life he had various jobs he even went back in the Merchant Navy for five years until1955.. Gradually settling down Stanley became a publican and ran the Albion public house in North Ormesby and later became the tenant of the Holywell View public house at Liverton Mines near Loftus for many years. Stanley Hollis a much loved family man died on 8 February 1972 aged 59 and was buried in Acklam Cemetery Middlesbrough. Stanley Hollis’s Victoria Cross now has pride of place in the Green Howards Regimental Museum in Richmond Yorkshire. Obviously you the reader must agree with me, in thinking and saying that indeed Stanley Hollis VC. was a very brave man

Remembrance Day

Hello Everybody
Having been born just before the War in 1938 Remembrance Day has always been a truly main event in the calendar. Both civilian, ex and present servicemen appreciate the ultimate sacrifice the men and women did in the service of their country in both World Wars. We cannot forget the many conflicts around the world we have been involved in. Also, not to forget the sacrifice the people of our great country who died in the blitz during World War Two?
I watched the parade in Whitehall on the television and every year it brings a tear to my eye. The ex-servicemen still march in step after all those years. The eyes left at the cenotaph was done in unison. I am not alone in saying how proud they all were in paying their respects to their fallen comrades, for some it will be the last time. You all did your country proud both then and now.
I have only been on one Remembrance Day parade. It was on the 11thNovember 1960 while serving in the Cameroons. We formed up that Sunday with the two Companies who were serving at Bamenda. We had about forty ex King’s African rifles who had served in various fields of battle during World War Two including Burma. We marched along the red dusty tack until we came to a large clearing where the service was held. What I can never forget was a bugler from our regiment The King’s Own Royal Border appearing on a cliff edge overlooking the clearing .The bugler played the last post to perfection, with the sound echoing down the valley. A truly memorable day I will never forget.
What I am disillusioned with, is the attitude of an Irish born Sunderland footballer who chose not to wear a poppy on his shirt. It wasn’t a lot to ask for, this to me was total disrespect for the many Irishmen from both sides of the border, who lost their lives during both world Wars. Not forgetting the Sunderland citizens who died in the bombing of Sunderland. He should be taken to the Sunderland cenotaph and shown the names of the men who died so that he can live in a free country and play football. I do not know what the people of Sunderland think of it all, but I have got a good Idea!
Long may Remembrance Day be observed for the brave men and women who have paid the supreme sacrifice in the service of our country?
Alan

Michael Calvert. A True Hero and Warrior

Hello Everybody,
Ever since I was very young, I have always been interested in the War in Burma. This came about; because of a young man in our street named Jackie Williams was killed in action there. There are three names that always crop up, when one reads about the Burma campaign. They are Slim, Wingate and Calvert. It is the latter that most intrigues me, Michael Calvert D.S.O. He was born in Rohtak, Delhi India where his father was a District Commissioner. He was educated at Bradfield College at eighteen years of age he went onto the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. Although he was commissioned into the Royal Engineers, Michael Calvert went onto Cambridge and studied mechanical science where he obtained an honours degree. He re-joined the Royal Engineers and was sent to Hong Kong then on to Shanghai. The Japanese- China was in full swing and while in Shanghai Michael Calvert went with Chinese forces has a hidden observer and saw first-hand how accomplished in warfare were the Japanese.
Just before the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 Calvert returned home to England and was sent on to a Special Forces School where he was taught ambushes, setting explosive etc. with Michael Calvert being a good boxer the hand to hand fighting taught was just down his alley. He was sent onto Norway which was a bit of a disaster for the British Forces and we had to evacuate or being captured by the Germans. While on the retreat in Norway Calvert became very accomplished at setting booby traps, before he was eventually evacuated back to England.
When Japan entered the War he was sent out to Burma as chief instructor at the Bush Warfare School in Maymio. Here he taught British and Australian officers and NCOs Guerrilla fighting. Always trying to get into the fray he eventually got his wish and was involved in many skirmishes in the British retreat through Burma. Back in India he met Orde Wingate. Calvert was totally inspired by with what Wingate had to say. The rest is history the Chindit expeditionary forces into enemy held territories were formed.
The first Chindit expedition into enemy country consisting of 3000 men was Operation Longcloth was in February 1943 Michael Calvert led one of the three Chindit expeditions. These expeditions proved the British Forces could match the Japanese at jungle fighting, providing they were trained properly for jungle warfare. By the end of April, after the mission of three months, the majority of the surviving Chindits had crossed the Chindwin River, having marched between 750–1000 miles Of the 3,000 men that had begun the operation, a third (818 men) had been killed, taken prisoner or died of disease, and of the 2,182 men who returned, about 600 were too weak from their wounds or disease for them to return to active service. Of the remaining men, Wingate practically handpicked those few he would retain, while the rest were put back to their old army units. One very notable skirmish happened on March 17th Calvert noticed that a company of South Staffordshire’s under his command was taking heavy fire from the Japanese forces who were dug in on the high ground surrounding a Pagoda. Making his way over to the South Staffordshire’s he decided something had to be done about the situation very quickly!
He then shouted to everyone that they were going to charge the Pagoda Hill. There were reinforcements on our left flank who would charge as well. So, standing up, Calvert shouted out ‘Charge’ and ran down the hill towards the Japanese. Half of the South Staffordshire’s joined in. Then looking back he found a lot had not. So shouting out through the top of his voice he told them to bloody well ‘Charge, what the hell you think you’re doing.’ So they charged. Everyone charged including the machine-gunners, mortar teams and all officers. The fighting quickly degenerated into a free-for-all. Calvert later said the action was an “extraordinary melee. Everyone got involved in the shooting, bayoneting, and kicking at their enemies. After a slight pause in the fighting a final charge by Calvert won the day. After the battle, the hill was a horrid sight, littered with Jap dead, and already the ones who had been killed there earlier in the day were black with flies. Stretcher-bearers were removing our wounded and our mercifully very few dead.. Lieutenant George Cairns although dying of his wounds was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. He had killed several Japanese after one of his arms had been severed with a sword. There were twenty British troops killed in the battle with over 50 Japanese. Michael Calvert was awarded the DSO for his actions. He was known to men under his command has Mad Mike Calvert. There was no doubt he was a brave leader of men. The end of April, after the mission of three months, the majority of the surviving Chindits had crossed the Chindwin River, having marched between 750–1000 miles. Of the 3,000 men that had begun the operation, a third (818 men) had been killed, taken prisoner or died of disease, and of the 2,182 men who returned, about 600 were too week from their wounds or disease to return to active service. Of the remaining fit men, Wingate handpicked those few he would retain, while the rest were put back under the normal army command structure as part of their original battalions.
Michael Calvert suffered along with the rest of the expedition with malaria, dysentery and many jungle ailments. After a few months of recuperation he returned to active service and the planning of the second Chindit Operation named Thursday. This operation commenced on March 5th 1944, with 20,000 allied troop taking part. This time 10,000 of the Chindits were going in by gliders to designated areas. Michael Calvert was promoted to temporary Brigadier and again commanded one of the large patrols going by glider. The actions, by men of the Chindit patrols, have been written many times by men who fought in those patrols. All the men of different nationalities, who took part, were brave men indeed. When, one talks about heroes you need no further to look than the men who were part of the Chindit expeditions. By July 1944 it was clear that the Chindits were exhausted by continuous marching and fighting under heavy monsoon rains, and were withdrawn. By the end of the campaign the Chindits had lost 1,396 killed and 2,434 wounded. Over half the remaining men had to be hospitalized with a special diet afterwards. During Operation Thursday Orde Wingate was killed in a plane crash while visiting his troops. All troops serving in the 14th Army under Field Marshal Slim were trained to Chindit standards in the defeat of the Japanese in Burma.
Michael Calvert was returned to England with a foot injury while playing rugby in India. When, this was cleared up between his many bouts of malaria. He successfully commanded a Polish regiment in the European war which by then was drawing to a conclusion. At the end of the Second World War he taught at special operation schools both at home and abroad, especially In the Malayan Campaign. It was here that his expertise was gratefully received and executed.
He was court-martialed for an alleged act of indecency and dismissed from the army in 1952 while serving in Germany. Until the day Michael Calvert died, he denied the allegations against him. For such a brave man as Calvert, this should have been sorted out and not just been shoved under the table and forgotten. He later wrote three books about his career in the forces. He travelled a lot but, suffered terribly with his health from the actions in the Far East. Michael Calvert DSO and Bar died on the 26th November at Richmond-upon- Thames in 1998, aged 85. Personaly I have always had total respect for the brave men who fought and still fight for our country. To me the Chindits were something special and to be led by such a man as Michael Calvert. He was indeed a leader of very brave men, a leader who no doubt was a hero and warrior.
Alan

Vera Lynn A Legend In Troop Entertaining

When I mention troop entertainers, one name stands out more than others. Yes you are right Vera Lynn. My first recollection of Vera Lynn was in the war years. I along with my parents, my brother and sister, all sitting round the fire in our backroom listening to the radio. When Vera Lynn sang, nobody said a word until she had finished singing. What a wonderful voice and without doubt a wonderful woman.
Dame Vera Lynn, DBE, was born Vera Margaret Welch on 20 March 1917 in East Ham. She began performing publicly at the age of seven; she adopted her grandmother’s maiden name (Lynn) as her stage name. Her first radio broadcast, was with the Joe Loss Orchestra, in 1935. At this point she was being featured on records released by dance bands including those of Loss and of Charlie Kunz In 1936 her first solo record was released. She became enormously popular during the Second World War entertaining the Forces in Europe, Egypt, India and Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops. She became known, and is still referred to, as “The Forces Sweetheart”. In 1941, during the darkest days of World War II, Lynn began her own radio show,” Sincerely Yours,” sending messages to British troops serving abroad. She and her quartet performed songs most requested by the soldiers. Vera Lynn also visited hospitals to interview new mothers and send personal messages to their husbands overseas.
I have to mention. In 1985 it was announced that Vera Lynn would receive the Burma Star for entertaining British Guerilla units (Chindits) in Japanese-Occupied Burma territory. She lifted the hearts of the lads serving in the Burma theatre of war, making sure they were not forgotten. During those dark war years the songs most associated with her are “We’ll Meet Again” The White Cliffs Of Dover” “A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square” and “There Always Be An England” Vera Lynn remained popular after the war, appearing on radio and television in the UK and the United States and recording such hits as “Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart” and “My Son My Son.” I personally love to hear Vera Lynn singing “Land Of Hope And Glory” I get a tingling sensation in the back of the neck and making me so proud to be British of which I am
In 2009 she became the oldest living artist to make it to No. 1 on the British album chart, at the age of 92. She has devoted much time and energy to charity work connected with ex-servicemen, disabled children and breast cancer. She is still held in great affection by veterans who fought in the Second World War and in 2000 was named the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the twentieth century. I could go on forever about Vera Lynn, who indeed was an outstanding woman of the 20th Century.

Alan

Ken Nicholson Border Regiment 1952-54

Hello, my name is Ken Nicholson. I was brought up in Maryport Cumbria. In 1952 I was called up to do my National service with 1st Battalion Border Regiment which is a Cumbrian Regiment. When, my training at Carlisle Castle was finished. I was posted to the regiment in the Suez Canal Zone, Egypt from 1952-4. While in Egypt I was in a small detachment sent to Cyprus, because of the Greek earthquake in 1953. We had gone to guard the Governor’s summer residence in case of any problems. After a few weeks our detachment returned to active service in Egypt. We hadn’t been back long when all of (A) Company which I belonged to was sent back to Cyprus on earthquake relief. This was a complete godsend from the active service regime in Egypt. While stationed in Cyprus we were liberally plied with food and drink by the very friendly Greeks and Turks and we even got a bit of R and R in Nicosia. This went on for a few weeks until things were tightened up, because of the impending threat of Eoka terrorist activity. When (A) Company was eventually sent back to Egypt, it was back to doing guards in various places, manning roadblocks and frequently undertaking many long route marches and exercises in the hot sun. One of the most heartening memories I have ever been involved with, was on the approach to Falaise Camp. This camp looked like a real Beau Geste outpost. On the way back from a long route march with a load of other footsore and weary squaddies. We were straightened up, shouldered our arms and marched back into camp behind the Corps of Drums They had emerged from behind the sand dunes and they struck up our regiment tune “D’Ye ken John Peel. It certainly brought a spring into everyone’s step and a memory one can never forget. My national service came to an end when I was de-mobbed in1954 and I returned home to Cumbria.
Good luck and best wishes everyone
.Ken Nicholson, Maryport, Cumbria