Manchester Eighth Army Veterans Association

HARRY arrived into this world with a bang. He was born in Stockport on 5th November 1921[1].

Before the war Harry was employed as an apprentice plasterer and was then called up to report for service in April 1941. His destination was the Ullswater hotel at Glenridding in the Lake District. Here he was kitted out and inoculated, departing one week later for Garva in N. Ireland.

After six weeks training he began driving lorries at the camp, and also performed guard duty every other night. He received only one leave in. eight months and became bored and frustrated with his lot. We have all felt similar to Harry in such situations and, like many of us, it marred his judgement to the extent that, he committed the "cardinal sin" for the private soldier. He volunteered for something. He asked to go abroad. Looking back now he must surely feel he did the right thing.

Harry was sent to Bradford in Yorkshire from where he went on seven days embarkation leave, reporting back on Boxing Day 1941. He waved goodbye to England as he sailed, like so many before and after, from Liverpool on the 'Orantes' for the Middle East, calling at Freetown, Cape Town and Aden, before landing at. Port Taufiq. Then on by train into the desert to Fort Capuzzo, having been machine gunned on the way. Here Harry joined 384GT Company whose sign was the Huntsman, similar to Tetley's Beer.

When the big German attack got underway Harry was near Tobruk. As they moved back they called Al Merza Matruh and were advised to load as much food and supplies as they could carry from the local NAAFI, because it was to be blown up before evacuating the town[2].

Back at El Alamein the Company was engaged on supplying ammunition for our 25 pounders. As the tide of battle turned in our favour Harry and his Company moved up with the advancing Eighth Army, carrying supplies. At this particular period Harry drove the Cook-house lorry. But soon after he went on a short course for medical orderlies. As a consequence he was made Deputy-in-Charge of the M.I. tent. The company saw the end of the N. African campaign in Tunis before returning to the base depot at Tahag in preparation for the invasion of Sicily.

Harry 'celebrated' his 21st birthday at Benghazi during one of the extremely rare days of rain. He sailed from Port Said on the “Lancashire” for the invasion of Sicily. However, the ship called at Malta where they were in dock for a week without being allowed off the boat. Then on to Siracusa in Sicily, and after the island fell, on to the Italian mainland then up the Adriatic coast as far as Falconara.

To the left, you can see Harry's 1943 Christmas Card to his fiance. Harry didn't quite make it back for Christmas 1944. However, when LIAP leave was introduced Harry's name, along with three others, was drawn out of over 300 in the company. Even though fighting was still taking place, Harry and his mates sailed from Naples on the “Duchess of Richmond”. They were the first troops to come home under the scheme and were greeted on landing by "Top Brass", free tea, cigarettes, cakes and a newspaper. During his 21 days leave Harry was married, and also the war in Europe was finally over. But he was sent back to Italy on the 'Duchess of Bedford'.

As he returned to the company the rest of the lads were sent home on leave. Harry was posted to an Italian Pack Mule company at Bologna. There were six British with the rest of the Company made up of a thousand Italians, numerous mules and horses. Harry was eight months with this unit and was employed as the Colonel's driver. Much of the work of the company was devoted to locating the graves of the men who were buried where they fell in the mountain regions. The bodies were dug up and brought down lo be handed over to the War Graves Commission. They also recovered equipment and material left from previous battles.

The Mule company was handed over to the Italian army and Harry was posted to 27 Company GT until New Year's Eve 1945. On that day he set off for home by train and boat via Switzerland and France. After 28 days leave he was posted to Oulton Park. RASC Holding Company, driving to Chester, Crewe and Winsford. With only six weeks to his demob he was posted to Lowestoft with the Royal Engineers clearing mines from the beaches. (What a lousy job at this stage of his service).

Finally Harry got his release at Guildford in September 1946. He was called up as a “Z” reservist, for two weeks training in Edinburgh in May 1952. He returned to plastering and set up his own business in 1950 but retired, due to ill health, in 1970.

Harry enjoys singing and was for many years a member of Stockport Male Voice Choir. Another hobby of his gives him a hard time; he supports Stockport County. He has one son, and three grandsons aged 25 years, 26 years and 21 years who are all good musicians.

As an RASC Association member Harry has spent many happy holidays at their hotels at St. Annes, Weston-super-Mare and St. Leonards. Harry is another of our quiet members who enjoys being with his veteran comrades at our meetings. Like other subjects we have portrayed, he is modest and the account we give of his service is abbreviated.

In Summer 2005, Harry was involved in a road traffic accident. It was a head on smash that left his vehicle in flames and caused him to be hospitalised with multiple injuries. Our lawyer points out that the smash wasn’t Harry’s fault and the errant driver faces criminal prosecution. Harry now makes light of the incident. Mind you, those hand grenades would have come in handy.

Harry looks younger than his 84 years. He has had the habit of smiling at adversity and it rolls away impending middle age. He is a popular and loyal member of the association.