either engage or report back to HQ.

On the second occasion, we came under fire from machine guns and the soldier nearest to me was shot in the head. The enemy sent up flares, exposing our position, and started to mortar us. Having gathered sufficient information, I managed to crawl back 200 yards in open country under continuous fire with the wounded man to our fallback position, from where the soldier was evacuated.

Military Cross and Légion d’Honneur

I was awarded the Military Cross for my actions, with the citation reading, “He showed great powers of leadership and by his coolness and determination, valuable information was gained. Throughout he showed a complete disregard for his own safety and was an inspiration to the men under his command.”

The soldier wrote to mesome months later thanking me for saving his life, but I never met him again or heard from him after the war. I didn’t think of the danger at the time. I was concentrating on returning with my soldier and ensuring that HQ was made aware of the enemy’s strength.

Roy in India in 1946

I remained in Germany after VE Day and saw the displaced persons of Bergen-Belsen – prisoners had lived in appalling conditions at that concentration camp, without expectation of help from the British – before being promoted to Captain in January 1946 and posted to India. I returned to the UK in 1947 and served in the War Office until my retirement from the Army in 1950.

In more recent years, thanks to the work of my