ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

I grew to love my Uncle David through reading old press cuttings and from family memories, although he died over 12 years before I was born. This is his story.

David and two other soldiers had been separated from their regiment, hungry and thirsty they called at a farm house near in Tilly Sur Seulles in the hope of being offered some sustenance. At the farm a young farmers wife welcomed them, and although she had very little for herself and her children she gave them some food and drink. David and the other soldiers were on their way back to the beaches in the hope of re-joining their regiment when they thought they heard shooting, because they were unsure, the two soldiers tried to persuade David to continue to the beaches but David decided he was going to turn back and check on the farmers wife and children. When David returned to the house he heard loud voices, he entered the farm with care and found three German soldiers, one of the soldiers was being very aggressive towards the farmers wife and the children were cowering in the corner. David opened fire and shot the soldiers, he then moved towards the lady but one of the German soldiers was still alive and just before he died he managed to shoot David in the back. David died in the arms of the French lady on 9th June 1944 aged 32 years.

The reason the details are known by my family is because the farmers wife wrote a letter to my grandparents via a newspaper, giving details of David’s heroism and requesting contact details. The lady explained how she owed her life and that of her children’s to my uncle.

My grandparents were invited over to Tilly Sur Seulles to meet the French family, this they did and I have photographs of them outside the farmhouse. My husband and I have since visited David’s grave on a number of occasions, we bought a small evergreen plant and placed it on his grave. Although we never met David, on each visit to his grave many tears are shed, it is so emotional being there and knowing why he died at such an early age. I have a telegram from the War Office which states basically "In reply to your letter dated 25th April 1949 I have to say your son D Cropper is buried at Tilly Sur Seulles", very matter of fact with no condolence.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.