The experiences of 'Taffy' - 11th June 1944

June 11th
‘Woke up about dinner time, Robert Dantan and Jean Gaillet came down and took me back to a house where I learned that I was to move to a place near Paris (Antony). After a wash, shave and dinner, was on the way. My guide riding about a hundred yards in front. Passed a few German soldiers on the way but no one stopped me. Arrived at the place about 3.30 in the afternoon. The chap is a very nice person; the freedom of the house is mine so he said but not to go near any windows or open the front door for no one. He is working in Paris all day so I am her by myself.’

Arthur’s recollection in November 2004

‘Two boys came down and they said, “We have been in touch with London, you are okay, so M.Gautier will show you what to do from now on. You can come out now.” So I came out and they gave me trousers and a shirt, and they took away my uniform. M.Dantan appeared then. He was getting on a bit then, typical Frenchman, thin moustache. He had a bicycle, and another bike came from across the road that old lady died not long ago, she’d taken it or pinched it from somewhere. She gave me the bike and she said “You follow M.Dantan to Paris but you don’t follow him, you follow the parcel tied on the back of the bicycle”. So away we went, and passed two or three sentry boxes on the bridges across the Seine and we turned inside off the main road. Just behind the rail road there was a row of houses and I stayed there for two weeks.’

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Becky Barugh of the BBC Radio Shropshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of Des Evans and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

See more of Des’s stories:

• Bale out!
• Missions from Woodhall Spa
• Tracers coming through the thatch
• I didn’t quite get the chop
• Little humour in adversity
• Ted Porters Crew
• The ‘Augsburg Raid’
• S/L Sherwood’s recommendation for the Victoria Cross
• The worst night of the War…
• The worst night of the War (Part 2)
• The worst night of the War (Part 3) - Crew
• The worst night of the War (Part 4) - Losses
• The worst night of the War (Part 5) — Extract from ‘the Berlin’ Raids’
• The worst night of the War (Part 6) — Bombers over Berlin
• The worst night of the War (Part 7) — Combat Report
• A Dedication to Skipper Wing Commander Ted Porter - Pause for Thought
• A Dedication to Skipper Wing Commander Ted Porter — A Navigators View of the Route to Heaven
• Did you know?
• Flight Operations carried out with Sgt. D.C Plaunt
• Flight Operations carried out by Sgt. J.J Johnson
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ after baling out on 9th — 10th June 1944
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ after baling out on the 9th - 10th June 1944 - Continued
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ - 12th — 15th June 1944
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ - 16th - 18th June 1944
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ - 19th — 23rd June 1944
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ — 24th August 1044
• ‘Our Heroes’

For further stories read ‘ACHIEVE YOUR AIM’ by Kevin Bending

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