The experiences of 'Taffy' - 16th - 18th June 1944

June 16th
‘Went out today with Dantan. Saw a few houses that were pranged last Friday night by our boys. 24 people killed altogether. Have raids here, sometimes up to five times daily.’

June 17th (Saturday)
‘Fed up to the tooth with this place. Have counted nearly every nail in my room. Dantan went away for the weekend (getting supplies). No fags makes things worse. It is now nine o’ clock on a Saturday night. Have just finished supper of chips I made myself. The all-clear has just gone after a few Spits had been clearing up a drome nearby. What would I give to be in the dance at Port now, or driving the old van. Would even go round the street and Pen Rallt and Bush for G. Jones, and he knows how much I hated that round on a Saturday night. Tonight I think I would do it for a packet of Woodbines. But, as Kipling said, I quote ‘The Hexygon of youth is the manhood of tomorrow’ and where there is no such word as fail. Will be home in August if everything holds good. Wish I could let them know at home. Will be some surprise for them all when I turn up but I make a vow here never to fly on ops again if the rest of the crew ‘went for a burton’’ (KIA)

June 18th
‘Stayed in bed till 1 o’ clock today to save myself the agony of no cigarettes. Have just finished cleaning out my room waiting for Monsieur Dantan to come home from Arpajon. Notice that the Hun has started to repair the railway line outside this house, (the strategic railway line Palaiseau to Wissous) also that a large convoy went through last night. Wish our boys would take Paris then it would be ‘Home sweet home’ for me.

Went out walking with Georges this afternoon, saw the anti-aircraft defence of the nearby drome. Also saw troop trains passing full of supplies for the Normandy front. Guess it will take a hell of a time for our boys to come this far. Georges brought my uniform down from his other place today, also plenty of food to last us a week. No worry about grub, fags seem to be my main worry.’

Arthur quotes recollection in November 2004
‘Georges Dantan, he was a real excited fella you know, and he had some petrol from somewhere and put it in his motorbike and he said “You come with me”. So we went up the road a bit, and on the railway there was a siding there with five guns on there. We had to crawl through the peas to have a look. I wasn’t keen at all. He wanted me to draw it and then take it back to London.’

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’ - 11th June 1944
• The experiences of ‘Taffy’ - 12th — 15th 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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