"I noticed 3 of my comrades lying wounded. Among them was Lieutenant Cattell. The lower part of his leg had been shot away. He was unconscious."
Im 78 years old. Ive been a painter and decorator all my life. At one time I had my own business and shop, but had to close the shop when the DIY supermarkets opened. Ive done 22 years as a part-time fireman.I think its such a good story. There are a lot more stories I could tell, but that one always sticks out in my mind. Inside Lives was very good, excellent.
Every Christmas for the last twenty years, a white van has pulled up in front of our house and the van driver delivered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. She has never met the man who sends it, but I have. It was March 1945. I was an eighteen year old stretcher bearer, with the 6th airborne division, among the first British paratroopers to land in Germany. We landed at 10 o' clock and it was chaos. There was shot and shell flying everywhere. Choose how much training you do, you are never properly prepared for the real thing. When I approached my rendezvous point, I noticed 3 of my comrades lying wounded. Among them was Lieutenant Cattell. The lower part of his leg had been shot away. He was unconscious. With trembling fingers and conscious of my own safety, I administered morphine and first aid. It was 30 years later, through a mutual friend, that Ted Cattell found out it was I who saved his life. Now, every Christmas, he sends my wife 24 carnations with the message 'Forever grateful', signed Ted Cattell. | 
