Leslie Blakesley joined the Army in November 1942, aged 17, and enlisted in the Black Watch. He originally served as a despatch rider, then became a driver of Bren Gun/Universal carriers.

He was transferred to 1st Battalion KOSB on 3/3/1943 as they needed drivers for gun carriers and trained for the Normandy landings in the Moray Firth at Burghead.

He was 20 years old when he drove his Carrier - pulling a 6 pounder gun - off the boat onto Sword Beach on D-Day. He was wounded in the back by shrapnel at one point.

After the war, he went to Egypt and Palestine and learned to play the bagpipes. He was demobbed in 1946. His official discharge date was 08/05/47 (although medal card states a month earlier).

Lesley married and had 5 children. He loved the pipes and taught one son and his daughter, Alison. Another of his sons played the snare drum. They all played for Dufftown Pipe Band.

Leslie died in 1996.

Many thanks to Leslie's daughter for the information, and photographs.