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Ernie was 23 in May 1945. He had been called up in 1940, aged 20, and served in the 51st (Leeds Rifles) Royal Tank Regiment as a Trooper. He served in North Africa and then Italy. Ernie recalls vividly having to act as a stretcher bearer, carrying injured people from a church, over a bridge, to a safer area. The church and bridge were under shellfire and the roof had been blown off the church. Ernie was honoured by the Canadian Infantry for his efforts and received a maple leaf clasp. He recalls finding out that war was finally over, after years of longing for an end to it all. He was in Italy and his battalion had a victory meal where the officers served their troops! Ernie found it very difficult to return to London, so bomb-damaged and silent. He describes being at a loose end and feeling very lost. It took a long time to settle back into civilian life. He now lives at The Royal Star and Garter ��ѿ��ý in Surbiton, and describes the care he receives there to be “absolutely splendid.” Image: Ernie in Italy in the 1940’s during the war, and Ernie now