I attach a file containing part of a book of his life story written by Major RH Stevens MC for the benefit of his grandchildren, so that they will “learn of some of the memorable events during our exciting lifetime and perhaps, after reading, they will come to the conclusion that we weren’t the ‘old fogies’ that they may have first thought”. I hope that the contents may be of interest or even help others in their research of the 2/4th Btn, The Hampshire Regiment during the Second World War.
One curious passage on pg.14, my emphasis in italics: The book excerpt refers to an officer Richard Wakeford receiving the VC, this is detailed in: 174363 Richard WAKEFORD, VC, 2/4 HAMPS: Original Recommendation
My father, Major RH Stevens MC, as officer in command of the honour guard, is immediately behind the King, who presented ‘Gunner’ Wakeford with his VC.
As a footnote to my father’s recollections attached earlier, I have found a record of the trip that he and my mother made in 1995 to visit all of the war cemeteries in Italy where members of The Hampshire Regiment were laid to rest. I hope that this is of some interest.
