- Contributed by听
- St Barnabas Library
- People in story:听
- David Thomas Cope and Helen Whittaker
- Location of story:听
- Dunkirk
- Article ID:听
- A3290672
- Contributed on:听
- 17 November 2004
My father returned to the Army and was later posted to Poona, India,where this photo was taken.
My father was at Dunkirk. He got onto a ship which was then blown up and he swam to shore. He queued for the second ship, which was also blown up. He was badly injured, particularly his right arm and burnt. He was knocked unconscious but another soldier wrapped his arm up with his silk scarf and got my father back to the beach. My father eventually made it to a third ship and back to a hospital in Dartford in Kent.
My grandparents (my father's parents) received a telegram asking them to come to the hospital immediately as my father was expected to die. Surgeon wanted to amputate his right arm but my great uncle advised against this. Eventually, my father made full recovery. He never found out which soldier give him the silk scarf and got him to the shore (saved his life) but he always treasured the scarf and was buried with it. He always had 2 bullet holes in his arm.
He was a member (later in life) of the Dunkirk Veterans Association and became vice chairman of the Mumbles British Legion towards the end of his life.
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