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My dad is dead now and it is some time since I was told but this is how I remember it.
My father joind the army in 1918 after lying about his age (he would be about 16)just as the war was ended,He was with the Luvat Scouts and he went over to France to help bring back the equipement that had been left behind.After serving overseas in India,he mentioned Armanuga,he was 'mustered out'in 1938 and then back in again the same year when war was declaired.He was bitter about this as it was what he called split service and so meant a reduced pension.As a boy the question asked at school was 'What did your'e dad do in the war?'I could never answer because dad never spoke of it.It was many years later when he was in his 70's we were having a drink and he was 'in his cups' that he spoke of Dunkerk.By this time he was a sergent major, he didn't say how he came to be on the beach. I got the impresion he and his men where there for some time. The men where geting badly shot up and as an SM they expected him to do something about it.He spoke of them crying and in extream pain 'Get us out of here sarge' was a quote I remember.He spoke of his frustration at not being able to take controle, another quote comes to mind 'we were shot to pieces'.My dad was of the old school and this was the only time in my life I saw him visibly upset.He finished his carear as an RSM and helped to train cadets in Stockport until 1952 I think.He always said there was no finer life for a man than the army.I have a few photo's and there is a lot more to this story but not about Dunkerk. If anyone knows about my dad I would love to here from them feel free to phone at 0161 428 6048.

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