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John Smith attended the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ War Memorial Rededication Ceremony at The Mailbox on 14 Nov 2004. Afterwards he told this story which has been entered by a volunteer.

I joined the Royal Warwicks in 1939, but later on, I volunteered to join the Paras. It was all ego really: I wanted that red beret and the wings on my arm.

I served in North Africa with the 8th Army then we invaded Sicily and Italy. I was wounded in Italy on D-Day. I moved up Italy when I left hospital (I’d suffered from 2 doses of malaria as well). When the war ended I was demobbed at the end of 1945. I got married then. I’d been away in the forces for 6 years by then and never had a Christmas at home.

When I came home in 1945, I joined the 18th Battalion Parachute Regiment and I jumped at Castle Bromwich in the Battle of Britain displays. One time, 2 kids asked for my autograph and I gave it them. I felt nine feet high!

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