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Mother’s Reaction to His Enlistment
A parting comment from Colonel Merritt about his mother’s reaction when he and his siblings enlisted at the beginning of the WWII.
Receiving the Victoria Cross
Colonel Merritt recalls getting the news that he would be receiving the Victoria Cross. He speaks kindly of King George IV, who presented it to him in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Freedom At Last! (2 of 2)
Colonel Merritt continues his account of the liberation of the prison camp by American forces.
Freedom At Last! (1 of 2)
Colonel Merritt reflects on the events at the POW camp as the war neared an end.
Ears to the Outside World
Within the prison camp, it was possible - with some risk involved - to keep abreast of the war developments.
The Escape
Colonel Merritt remembers his escape from the POW camp through the underground tunnel. Sadly though, his freedom was short-lived.
A Tunnel to Freedom
Colonel Merritt was a senior officer on the Escaping Committe at the prison camp. In time, the prisoners constructed a tunnel to freedom.
On to the POW Camp in Germany
Following a time of hospitalization near Dieppe, his men, now Prisoners of War, were taken to Eichstatt in Germany to a POW camp. Colonel Merritt recalls that a short time later, Hitler issued an edict stating that all prisoners who took part in the Dieppe Raid were required to be handcuffed.
Surrender to the Germans
Colonel Merritt makes the difficult decision to surrender to the German Army and be taken as prisoners of war.
Crossing The River - Worthy of a Victoria Cross
In order to advance to their objective, it was necessary for Colonel Merritt to lead his men across a river bridge near their destination. However, the bridge was under fire from German forces who were dug in on the opposite river bank. Colonel Merritt would later receive the Victoria Cross from King George VI for his work here.
Across the English Channel
Colonel Merritt speaks of the flotilla’s crossing of the English Channel to France and the unexpected encounter with German E Boats.
Preparing on the Isle of Wight
The South Saskatchewan Regiment and other units involved in the Dieppe Landing spent several months on the Isle of Wight preparing for the attack.
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