My Experience...Stanley Lilley.

STANLEY LILLEY. LAC

R.A.F REGIMENT: 1484152 SQUADRON: 2185.

LOCATION: DUNKIRK, FRANCE.
BERLIN, GERMANY.

MY STORY:

I volunteered in 1941, aged 17 and a half. I felt I had to help my country.
I was demobbed in 1946. I was ready to leave and return home.

I served in the R.A.F regiment as a gunner. I did my 6 months training at Syston in Lincolnshire.
The squadron was despatched to France overnight, by boat and landing craft. We were being based at Dunkirk.

The Americans were already fighting the Germans. We were trying to quell the German gun-post position. We fought most of the day, with rifles, until they retreated at night.
Our duties then consisted of ‘mine’ detecting on the beaches. We would clear small areas at a time, before advancing to the next.
We were also instructed to clear the Billets of the German occupied French houses- we were ordered to search door to door.
During Winter- time, we had orders to continue searching for mines, even in the snow!

Our company was later moved to allied occupied Germany, following their defeat, for occupation duties in Berlin.

I took part in the victory parade, with all the services Personnel involved, marching to the Brandenburg Gate- some 3 miles.

We were then stationed at Gatto. When we left for home leave, we flew by Lancaster’s.

I did return for duty for several months more. The German people were trying to repair the devastated roads and their bombed homes- attempting to restore some normality to their lives.
Russians, Americans and British troops formed separate sections to oversee the territory.

Returning to England and being de-mobbed, I had 72 days leave, given a new suit to wear and retained my blue beret.
(continued)

My previous employer: John Player and sons had kept my job open for me to return to work, where I trained as a semi-skilled electrician.
I was sent to Stirling in Scotland, for one year to build a new factory

I met my wife in 1947 and we married in March 1949.
We have three children and five grandchildren.

Looking back, now I am eighty-three years old, I feel I was one of the lucky ones to return home, from the many dangerous missions.
I was privileged to fight alongside some great buddies. (See the photograph attached.)

Until recently I have not talked about my experiences with my family and friends.
Also it was only a couple of years ago that I collected my medals, organised through a local newspaper in Nottingham, where I had lived all my life until I moved to Norfolk, with my wife.

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