Sword Beach to Bremen., A Veterans tale. Sapper

Hi Brian i have now read all your posts and i feel better informed thanks.

I see you kept a commando knife did you collect any other souveniers along the way? I know a gentleman who grabbed a few german flags etc.

Also as this thread goes back a few years did you ever do a book?

I cant say thank you enough

 

Sorry i think the word souvenier isnt quite right but i hope you know what i mean

 

Yes I wrote a book entitled "Cameos of War" for friends and family. NO I never broguht anything home with me, as I came back severely wounded. Everything I had was left behind.
The book is about 5 service men, all associated with Sword Beach. Only one got to Bremen. The rest fell by the wayside. two infantry men, Two Sappers and Stan Hough a sailor on the boat we crossed on.
Brian

 

Hi Brian

You mentioned when writing home you would put where you were in a code. Did your parents ever work out this code? Or was it pre planned before you went?

I am surprised the letters didnt get censored before going out maybe you foxed them all!!

Hope you are well

Bob

 

Hi Bob To be honest I cannot recall? But at home they were busy enough anyway.
Brian

 

What are your thoughts on Bill Millin the veteran who played the bag pipes whilst landing on Sword?

I guess amongst the most terrible of situations things like this can help.

Last year i bought my poppy from a veteran of D Day he said he went accepting he was dead already and it helped him.

Thanks

 

It was funny really. For the Sappers had got to the bridge first, with a Sapper Sgt leaning against the bridge; having a cigarette and watching the brave show that was put on. But that would never suit the media would it?

Things are never as portrayed. Or seldom as presented.
Brian

 

Thanks Brian.

As im only a young man of 35 i grew up watching these war films and you would have thought the Americans won it on there own! And if the story is from a British side it's an American actor!

Saving Private Ryan & Band of Brothers are ive been told very close to the noise and horror etc maybe our version will be made one day.

That said i dont think it would have been posible to defeat Nazi Germany without the Americans and we have a lot to thank them for but i do wish the likes of Speilburg would go a great film as a tribute to the Britsh.

Wonder who they would get to play your part?

On another note did i read somewhere you lived at Purbeck Isle Dorset? Sounds a nice place.

I live in Lincolnshire a busy part of the country for the RAF then and now.

Take Care

Bob

 

YUP the Purbeck Isle. Dorset Bob. We trace back to the 1500s here. Are you aware that the whole of the planning and execution of the Overlord invasion, was a totally British affair?
Cheers
Brian

 

Yes Brian i knew that. I have a fantastic and very detailed book about the planning etc. It never ceases to amaze me how much planning went into Overlord. Taking sand samples prior to landing etc. (Operation Postage Able?)

Where did you do your training for Overlord and at what stage did you know which beach etc you would be landing on?

I guess once you knew all the detail you were confined to barracks to keep the information "in house".

Thanks for talking (not every day you get to talk/text to a WW2 hero) as its a bit quiet on this thread.

Regards Bob

 

I joined them late. Most of the invasion exercises took place on the West and East Coast of Scotland. Prior to landing we were encamped in Kent, in what was high security camps under canvas, not allowed to talk to anyone. Nor leave, and guarded by men with bayonets. To ensure complete secrecy.We never knew the beach.. No one told us anything until we got there, though there had been many "Mock ups"

The only time we were briefed,was on the Goodwood campaign. We were told what was to happen and when, that is about the only time we knew before we got there.

Though it has to be said,that in many cases we did not know what we were walking into. Some operations we were told at the last minute..Even to penetrating deep into enemy territory. We seldom knew more than an hour before hand. But in many cases, that is the nature of war...You never know what is around the corner, or where you will get hammered. On several occasions we had a group of men then within a split second, they had all gone. By shell fire or by mines exploding. We lost 8 men from one shell alone.
Brian

 

Thats scary Brian.

I suppose if you knew before hand in to much detail you would not be able to think of anything else. But im sure if the troops new more they would be better equiped to deal with things.

On another point now ive started looking at forums discussing WW2 you seem to be a legend every where over the internet! Which is the best site in your opinion? I like this one and WW2 talk.

I hope it brings you comfort and it isnt a pain when blokes such as myself want to talk to you.

You bring to life what must not be forgot.

Thanks
Bob

 

I've shamefully put up a picture of myself

I would put one up of me and the family but i best get there permission first! Just think its always better to have an image of a person your in contact with.

Keep well

 

My great uncle was SS he was in hungry if i got it right. I belive i had a relative on the western front i have to ask my great grandpa.By a chance in normandy did your unit fight elements of the 2nd SS panzer corp or the"Hitler jugend" aka12th SS panzer divison?

 

The 12 SS were our mortal enemies. They were in my opinion the toughest of all the German SS waffen SS units. Where ever we went we came up against the 12 SS Hitler Youth div. Sadly they also murdered our men in an orchard. They took prisoners and murdered them in cold blood.
Where as I never ever witnessed a single act against any German unit we captured. British Army discipline would never allow prisoners to be harmed as long as they kept their mouths shut, and did not start boasting about what the SS would do.

Though I would venture to suggest that taking SS prisoners was a far more difficult task knowing what they did to our men.

When I took a prisoner, if in action: I would stick his hands on his head. Light a cigarette, stick it in his mouth and point the way to go back. We tried not to escort prisoners. You have to go through the counter barrage, then again on your return. Send them back on their own....mate.

One very happy German prisoner, hands on head. Wandering back down the track...Puffing merrily away on his cigarette.
As long as they behaved? Right as ninepence.
Nice to see who I am talking to Bob.
Sapper

 

Wow I also read they held the entire british advance for awhile during operation espioge. I have to wonder was Montgomery a good leader in eroupe?

 

O and i talked to granpa his brother was SS also western front. Also his cousin to but he died in his mark 4 in the falise pocket.

 

Monty was a fine leader and was well respected bu his troops but im sure Brian will be able to give you better detail.

You should read the previous pages in this thread as Brian Sapper mentions the 12 SS often.

 

Monty was the very best. A man that was often being criticized by the generals at home in their armchairs.
The fact is, that Monty took Normandy ten days ahead of the planned schedule. Culminating in the Falaise pocket, where we surrounded a huge collection of German armies, and then steadily annihilated them... until the pocket was a gigantic cauldron of Death.

Where the stench of dead bodies was so strong, that the pilots overflying the pocket complained about the smell in their planes.

So many dead, that it was not possible in places to cross the roads without treading on piles off dead enemy. Without pity they were destroyed.

It was the same when the Germans overran the Yanks in the Ardennes. Immediately they put Monty back in charge of the whole caboodle.
It was Monty that saved them... And it was the British, on forced marches, that came down and cut off the German advance on the armoured Northern edge of his operations.

Falaise was a boiling cauldron of death.The sights inside that fiery place no sane person would want to willingly look at.

BY the way Bob,Thje is only one reason why I write about those days and the men I knew. It is simply that by writing about them, I keep their memory alive. Bless Them
Sapper

 

Thanks Brian your education to men like me will ensure what you and your generation did will never be forgot.

It's nice that you take the time to do it. I appreciate it although having to pop in and out of these sites (whilst sat at a computer at work!) im often catching up on varoius conversations.