Ern was born in
Stockport on 9th March 1919. Therefore he was considerably older
than most of our members when he entered the army, for War service only, in
1941. However he was at once in the thick of it, because he trained
in bomb disposal and worked with No. 8 Bomb Disposal Company from 1941 to
1943. This must have been a tense and nerve wracking occupation.
However it may have
become routine for him, because he volunteered in 1943 for Airborne
which was attached to 3 Para Brigade in 6th Airborne Division. His
particular section was attached to 9 Para Battalion which had the
challenging task of seizing the enemy battery at Merville.
Like so many others
Ern was dropped inaccurately and fell into the floods near Varaville. After
a long struggle he reached firm land and joined a party collected by
Brigadier Hill, who had also struggled out of the floods. This group of 40
was making it's way towards the battery when it was bombed by RAF planes and
many killed and wounded.
Ern and others were
captured by the Germans and forced to move in front as a shield as they
continued towards the fighting. They encountered Canadian parachutists who
opened fire and drove off the enemy. Unfortunately for Ern he was seriously
wounded by a grenade thrown by the Canadians, but was freed from his
captors.
His wounds were
serious enough to cause his prompt evacuation to the main Casualty Clearing
station in Ranville and then back to England. He spent many months
recovering and did not return to active service before the end of the War.
He was discharged in July 1945.
Ern must have
wondered whose side he was on, having been dropped astray by the RAF, bombed
by the RAF and wounded by the Canadians.
His story well
illustrates some of the dangers and confusion of the initial assault in
Normandy.
