Peter

18th July 9:30PM - Troarn, Normandy

Lance Corporal David Peter was leading his section around the outside edges of what they had been told was a minefield when, three or four yards in front of him, there was an explosion which he thought was an enemy bomb. He was blown back into this supposed minefield and landed on his knees, fully conscious and with no pain. He noticed his left arm was shattered and pretty 'tattered and torn'.

He checked on the rest of his section and asked if they could come to his assistance. "No bloody likely!" came the reply.

He took a deep breath and walked out unaided then was attended to by his comrades and a Battalion medic. He was given a shot of morphine and told to walk to the rear where there would be an aid station.

After walking for a while he finally came upon two medics with a jeep who (eventually) rushed him to 'A' echelon's medical post. From there he was put in an ambulance and sent to a hospital only a few miles from the enemy lines. A surgeon removed his shattered arm and a short time after he was placed in an amphibious DUKW and transported to a medical ship bound for England.

His memories of the voyage and being unloaded are hazy due to pain and medication but he does recall being carried on a stretcher and well-wishers throwing sweets and cigarettes onto his stretcher as he passed.

On the 21st of July he was moved from Southampton hospital to Winchester Hospital and then, as he slowly healed, was moved to various other medical centres around the country.

David Peter eventually returned home to his wife and became an insurance man to pay the bills whilst studying to be a draughtsman at night school. For many years he was the secretary of the British Legion in Leven, Scotland and was a skilled golfer. He died in 1994 and his son, Sandy, discovered an unfinished letter - which this piece is based upon.