Veteran Reunion

Discussion in 'Veteran Accounts' started by son of a rat, Dec 31, 2013.

  1. son of a rat

    son of a rat Senior Member

    I'm very happy to say that I met a veteran though ww2talk I don't wish to drop names but he is a Sir. I met the gentleman on the ferry to Normandy in June 2012 he served with the same squadron as my father and was shot in the back during a reconnaissance mission at a bridge near Bethune France. I have now put him in touch with one of the 2 men that rescued him almost 70 years ago. I would say this could be worth some TV coverage as we approach the 70th Anniversary of D-day.

    Happy New Year Everyone.
     
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  2. Bernard85

    Bernard85 WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    :m1helmet:good day son of a rat.yesterday 11:02pm.re:vet reunion.glad to read you have located a vet of interest.(they all are).he may not want tv coverage.it is great you respect the vets,wish you and your family a happy new year.regards bernard85 :m1helmet:
     
  3. son of a rat

    son of a rat Senior Member

    That's why I wont name drop on this post Bernard. But i'm very happy to reunite 2 Veterans who got into a near death situation nearly 70 years ago the Lieutenant went on to be a general with a military cross etc. They have not seen each other or known if either of them survived the war. This is a very important event to there families. and yes the choice is theirs.

    In 2007 I took my dear father to Sittard Holland close to the German boarder to meet a family that gave him shelter in December 1944. TV got wind of our trip though researcher and family friend, so we allowed them to follow our journey. My father was not to bothered about there attendance and said he was glad when they left us to get on with our visit. But the footage they put together and was shown on a 2 part news program was excellent. They sent us copies on DVD so our family have them forever. What memories for us to keep now I have lost my dear father.
     
  4. Our bill

    Our bill Well-Known Member

    Wow I do hope this goes ahead I respect everyone's own personal privacy but there are not that many veterans left plus like my dad most never said a word and their horrors of war die with them. Unless the stories are recorded and for all to read how can anyone truly understand what all the soldiers of ww2 went through. You can't keep the home fires burning with the memory of all the brave men if there are no personal stories out there to be read as the personal stories really hit home a lot more than a standard authors account of the war. Elsie
     
  5. son of a rat

    son of a rat Senior Member

    Elsie, These are two very well educated gentlemen of 90 and 91 years old they still travel use computers and i'm sure would be great to interview. But like you say most won't talk. I'm so happy that I have got them in contact almost 70 years after the event. One of the Veterans I have only met once the other I met in 2006 and as the years have gone by we have become much closer. In all my years spending many hours with British Veterans the nearest I have got to one telling me he taken out the enemy was while he saying that he would only wear his medals twice a year June 6th and November 11th and would visit Normandy every 3 years to pay his respects and maybe a few sorry's. I once asked my father and he replied" I was a butcher before the war and blood didn't worry me but I didn't sleep well until the 1970s and now I have forgotten I sleep and don't wish to be remembered" as for the two gents I would just love to be there when they meet what a wonderful experience and memory that would be. :)
     
  6. son of a rat

    son of a rat Senior Member

    'He owes me a beer!' Hero WW2 soldier who dodged bullets is reunited with lieutenant he saved 70 years later

    By Chris Parsons | Yahoo News – Mon, Feb 10, 2014

    View Photo
    Rex Features/Rex - Reunited: Fred Harris (L) shares a pint with General Sir Hugh Beach 70 years after saving his life. (Rex)
    A hero Army Driver who dodged German bullets to rescue his stranded lieutenant has been reunited with his WW2 colleague - 70 years after saving his life.

    Brave Fred Harris jumped from his vehicle as bullets flew overhead to save injured bleeding comrade General Sir Hugh Beach during a gun battle in northern France.

    Harris was just 21 when he risked his life to save the lieutenant who would later go on to become a General in the Army and be knighted twice by the Queen.

    Now 91 and living in Mill Hill, North West London, Mr Harris never heard another word about the man he saved, but seven decades after they survived the fire fight at La Bassee, the pair have been reunited for a long-overdue pint.

    They were put in touch through a mutual friend in the Normandy Veterans’ Association and had emailed before finally meeting for a drink at the Victory Services Club in Marble Arch.

    Mr Harris said: ‘I told him he's a lucky bugger. I'm pleased he made it. It was fantastic to see him again - I think he owes me a beer!'


    Army Driver Harris (left) and a newlywed Lieutenant Beach in their military days. (Rex)

    'I said to him that it's a shame I didn't know what he had achieved since our last meeting because I could have dined out on this story.'

    'I said to him: 'I had to call you Sir back then and I still do now by the looks of it', but he told me I can call him Hugh.'

    ['I will never give up': Britain's long-serving poppy seller, 91, has been raising money for 75 straight YEARS]


    Mr Harris was sent a letter of thanks by the then-Lieutenant Beach's father after the rescue in 1944.

    The former Army Driver went on to have five children with wife Patricia, but never received any medals for his hugely courageous actions.

    He had saved Lieutenant Beach with the help of Sergeant Bill Tynan, who was also acknowledged in the letter.


    The pair reminisce about their brave wartime pasts. (Rex)



    It read: ‘I write to give you my most heartfelt thanks for what you did for him. I fancy that he probably owes his life to the way Sergeant Tynan and yourself stood by him that night. The deepest thanks to you on behalf of myself and his mother.'

    The events of the rescue in 1944 came after Harris, Tynan and Beach were sent forward in an armoured car on a reconnaissance mission to ascertain whether the bridge could take the weight of advancing tanks.

    [On This Day: Anderson air raid shelters introduced in wartime Britain]


    Lieutenant Beach, armed with a sten gun, crept towards the bridge before spotting the grey uniforms of Nazi soldiers. He opened fire but was hit and temporarily paralysed from the waist down.

    Beach, who now lives in Earls Court, recalled the incident. He said: ‘I tried to crawl back behind the railway line which ran alongside a canal but my backside was too high - a bullet grazed my spine and took a bit of bone away. I was paralysed from the waist down. A staff sergeant got to me and dragged me back, very bravely I might add.'

    After the daring 1944 rescue, Harris went on through France and Belgium and on to Berlin. Lieutenant Beach was flown home for treatment, taking six months to recover before going on to serve in India, Ceylon and Java a year later.



    [On This Day: VJ Day marks end of World War Two as Japan surrenders]


    While Harris never received any medals for his actions, Lieutenant Beach was handed the Military Cross at just aged 21 for bravery, one of the military's highest honours.

    Mr Harris left the army in 1946, having spent almost two years in mainland Europe. He went on to a career in journalism and worked as the sports editor at the Hendon Times during a 40-year stint at the newspaper.

    Describing the emotional reunion, Mr Harris’s wife of 63 years, Patricia, said: ‘When I found out what he did, I just thought to myself, 'that's Fred, that is what he would do'.'



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  7. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

  8. son of a rat

    son of a rat Senior Member

    dbf,
    This was very lucky for me. Fred Harris I first met in Normandy in 2007 and kept in in touch. And thanks to ww2talk I was lucky to make contact with Sir Hugh's son and we met on the way to Normandy in 2012. Hugh told us the story and though talking to Fred about any info and contacts I have relaiting to the 621st Field Squadron we got a memory jog and this was the result.
    During the last few years of my Fathers life I spent much time trying to find someone my Father served with, I located six that served with the 621st, but none could remember each other so it was nice my reserch led to this reunion.
     
  9. TriciaF

    TriciaF Junior Member

    Indeed a lovely story - not depending on class etc, just one person saving another.
    I would have liked to hear stories from my Dad too, but he was one of the quiet ones.
     
  10. son of a rat

    son of a rat Senior Member

    Tricia, I think most British Veterans don't say to much. As for class I didn't know Hugh was a Sir until I looked him up on the internet, a very nice chap twice Knighted and a military cross. And Fred's wife and family knew nothing of this event in 1944 until Christmas when I found the link
     
  11. Matt_T_123

    Matt_T_123 New Member

    Dear son of a rat,

    Thank you for this post and the hard work you clearly do in bringing together veterans. My dad was on holiday two years ago and read the story of Fred Harris and General Sir Beech in a British newspaper he had bought in Lanzarote. Amazingly, he recognised the story about the events at La Basse canal from a story his dad had told him many years ago and details his mum had told him. His dad (my grandfather) was Bill Tynan, the Sergeant in 621 squadron who's driver that day was Fred Harris, and who between them saved General Sir Beech's life. We never knew the full details of the day but by reuniting these soldiers and telling their story we found out a lot about my grandfathers service. My Aunt, his daughter still has the letter sent from General Sir Beech's father to my grandfather in thanks. My dad contacted the newspaper and was lucky enough to get contact details of Fred Harris, who he rang and talked to about my grandfather and heard of the good work that Fred Harris still does with the veterans. Thanks to you Fred has been able to add more detail to the stories of the brave men from back then. Sadly my grandfather passed a few years ago at a good old age but thanks to you we have been able to remember him again for what he was that day and all the days we knew him. A hero. Thank you.

    Kind regards,

    Matt Tynan
     
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  12. son of a rat

    son of a rat Senior Member

    Hi Matt, I would like to know more about your grandfather. My father was a reconnaissance half-track driver with the 621st. After my father passed away it was a difficult time for myself and I wondered how I would get on with my Normandy pilgrimage without my father. I thought about the other sons and daughters who had also lost and what would become of the D-day commemorations in future years, it was May 2013 and the Normandy Veterans Association had also announced they would close later that year. I decided to start a Facebook page called ' Normandy Veterans Family and Friends ' to see if I could hold a few of us together with similar interests, in doing so I have also more 621 families that have joined my Facebook page. On one occasion I Posted a photo that my Father took in Berlin and a young lady recognised her grandfather in the picture. Fred is also active on the page, and I would be very happy to add you and your family.

    Thank you so much for making contact, and a HUGE thank you to ww2 talk for helping things like this happen.
    Kindest Regards Andrew ' Son of a rat '
     

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