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| Apple trees |
Then on Saturday, 29th July 1944, it was decided that a small number of men could have six days leave. The first selected few, in the majority Scotsmen, got away as soon as possible. As some said, this was too good to be true and sure enough, next morning a "return to camp" telegram was despatched to everyone. Some even got home to find the telegram waiting for them.
"This is it!" That phrase was heard coming from everybody. They had good cause for the packing and clearing up began in earnest. By Thursday, 3rd Aug, everything was ready and even the tents were packed. We made our beds all alongside the fence where the tents used to be and covered them over with ground sheets, macs and gas capes to keep out the dew. Just after it got dark four of us went for a quiet walk down the lane towards a couple of fruit trees in somebody's back garden.
We were all eating apples for the next couple of days.
Next morning we woke up fairly early, packed our bedding and other odds and ends and lined up for the start. The time came and off we went. The weather was very good and it was an enjoyable ride. I was a Bren-gunner and rode on the top of a truck. I wondered whether I would have any occasion to use the gun in the near future.
Paint Your Wagon: Another story I was told, verbally, was that, in preparation for this expedition to northern France, their unit had been ordered to paint their truck with palm trees. All the others being in camouflage colours. Decoy to confuse their destination or did they want it to stand out?
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