I was stationed at
Camp Cromore near Port Stewart, Ireland.
At inspection one
morning, Colonel Roy Lindquist asked me if I had a clean tie to wear.
"Yes sir," I
replied, "but I’m saving my clean tie to wear on leave in England."
"Do you know where
we are going?" asked the Colonel.
"I hear we’re going
to Nottingham, sir."
In disbelief the
Colonel walked slowly away shaking his head and forgetting about my dirty
tie.
Our destination was
classed TOP SECRET. The prospects of being encamped in Robin Hood land
were the subject of much talk.
The roads I
remember, the people I remember, but the pubs I remember the best.
I frequented the
White Horse on Ilkeston Road; I also went across the road to the Peacock.
A few nights before
the Invasion, I was having a warm pint of beer at the Peacock. As we left,
the old gentleman who owned the pub remarked, "I probably won’t be seeing
a lot of you fellows for a while. I wish I was going along, good luck and
god speed." Tears streamed down his cheeks.
On another occasion
there was a day when 2 British Soldiers dressed in German Uniforms, cycled
through Nottingham for several days unnoticed by civilians and military
police alike. British Army Sergeants challenged them and it was all over.
There was a day we
were paraded in full battle dress in Wollaton Park. A P-51 Mustang buzzed
the Park 2 or 3 times.
Berlin Radio
announced the next day, "THAT WAS A NICE PARADE YOU BOYS OF THE 508TH
HAD AT WOLLATON PARK YESTERDAY!"
Was it a yank or a
German flying that plane? We all wondered.
One sad note,
troopers were equipped with Gammon Grenades which as you know only
invasion airborne troops used.
Accidentally 2 of
these grenades were left behind when we departed for the invasion of
Holland.
Rumour has it that
2 Grenades were found by 2 young boys in Wollaton Park.
Both youngsters
were killed. |