The usher of Dunkirk

I was driver for the 508 Petrol Company RASC, 44th Division. My regiment was on its way back from the Belgium frontier and we had been told to get to Dunkirk - 'every man for himself!' I can still remember some of my comrades' names, in particular, Tommy Adams and Georgey Smith.

On the way to Dunkirk, we came across a NAAFI van, which had been abandoned with plenty of goodies still on board - we were going home, so we helped ourselves, filling our kit bags for the journey. On arriving on the beach at Dunkirk, we found it packed with troops.

Being only 21 years old, I walked up and down the beach, calling out 'Ices, chocolates, cigarettes' - just like an usher at the Cinema. The blokes on the beach hadn't eaten for days so there was a bit of a stampede - I slung the remains of the kit bag down and scarpered. But I managed to keep some fags for myself, hidden on my head, under my tin helmet!

After being on the beach for 3 days, we filed, snake-like along the beach and were guided onto the waiting boats by the Beach Marshall. I waded towards a small boat, which was manned by the Ramsgate Lifeguards,with my fags still under my helmet. Being a big-hearted kind of fellow, I held the boat steady while my mates climbed in - only to be told when it was my turn - 'that's enough.' I clung to the back of the boat while it made its way to the rescue boat which was a coal barge.

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