44 results returned
within campaign Northwest Europe
Dutch charity and a revelation
Ms. Drean describes being billeted with a Dutch family and always finding a glass of wine in her room after a long day's work. Her host family then shows her a secret room used to shelter escaping airmen who had been shot down.
The Field Surgical Unit at Saint-Omer
Ms. Drean describes the role of the Field Surgical Unit in Saint-Omer, France, its staffing complement, and what her specific duties were.
Physical and mental preparation
Ms. Drean discusses having to participate in regular parade drill as physical preparation for deployment, and despite having had no hands on contact with the war wounded as yet, feeling ready to do her job well.
Tragedy at Antwerp
Mr. MacLeod describes a German attack near Antwerp, Belgium in which his officer is decapitated by a bazooka, and his leg is so badly shattered that he is hospitalized in England until the war ends.
German POWs
Mr. MacLeod describes how German POWs were resigned to their captivity, and discusses one situation where a German officer might have been booby-trapped.
Ambush Luck
Mr. MacLeod describes how his entire battalion is strafed by a German machine gunner as they walk down a road, with only one man being hit in the heel.
Civilian Corpse
Mr. MacLeod describes finding an obviously assassinated civilian in a ditch, and speculates on the reasons for his death.
Marksmanship and Rifle Training
Mr. MacLeod discusses the difference between a good and expert marksman, and describes a particularly difficult training drill using a bolt-action rifle.
Body Armour
Mr. MacLeod describes using body armour and feeling more secure because of it.
“Losing it” and Self-inflicted Wounds
Mr. MacLeod describes reactions to battle stress such as what the troops called “losing it” and causing self-inflicted wounds which would necessitate hospitalization and avoid combat.
An Accident at Caen
Mr. MacLeod describes being wounded while disposing of a German grenade, and after two weeks medical leave returning to his platoon and only finding one original member left.
D-Eay +30
Mr. MacLeod describes the ease of landing in Normandy thirty days after the invasion, and not seeing any substantial consequences of war until he reached Carpiquet Airport.