[Ron Goldstein]

Strictly from one "veteran" to any other and posed with the utmost respect:

Before we all move on to other spheres, there is one question I have been dying to ask and only other veterans can supply the answer (although non-veterans are, of course, free to comment).

Firstly, and speaking strictly from my own experience.

To the best of my memory I can recall only two episodes in the whole of my army career when someone of significant rank explained to me either what was going on in the area of battle to which my unit was committed or/and where we stood in the grand picture of history in the making.

The first episode took place in Rieti in Northern Italy and I refer to my diaries:

Tuesday 19th December 1944
Tank recognition by models in the Intelligence Room. All afternoon spent in ABCA (Army Bureau of Current Affairs) room talking about "what to do with the Germans after the war!"

The second episode was immediately after the war in Europe:

Wednesday 2nd. May 1945
Jerry threw his hand in Italy and Austria. Fired all our 2" mortars, phosphorous bombs and verey lights and had bonfires all over the shop.
Cease fire about 11 pm. ( At noon today the Germans signed an unconditional surrender at Caserta)

Within days the whole regiment was summoned on parade by the CO who addressed us as follows:
"As you know the war in Europe is now over, and I suppose most of you are looking forward to seeing your loved ones again after years spent overseas. I must tell you, however, that there is an SS Cavalry Division in Austria at the moment who refuse to cease fighting and our regiment has been given the honour of going up there and persuading them that it would be a good idea on their part to surrender to us."

The question, dear fellow veterans, is this:

Did you ever really know what was going on around you or did you, just like me, follow orders, keep your head down and hope for the best ?.

Look after yourselves and keep taking the tablets

Ron