Many fallen comrades (From Penarth Times)

Many fallen comrades

By Mr L T Crates

I JOINED the Royal Marines at the age of 17 and a half and was posted to Deal in Kent for intense drilling and training for six weeks.

We were not allowed to go out until we learned how to walk smartly, like a Marine.

For a year we trained, and I was then sent to Chatham. More training.

After three months we were told that we were to be transferred to the Army because more men were needed after D-Day.

We had the choice of six Scottish regiments and I selected the Black Watch, because a lad I grew up with in Penarth was also in it.

We used to play in the triangle, a small copse behind St Augustine's Church, swinging from the trees.

We never knew then that we would be at war and be on active service with the Black Watch.

We did more training at Lockerbie and Kilkeel in Ireland. Then we were sent home on short leave where I could see my family and the lass I loved so much.

She came to Penarth as a WAAF where we met and later we were married.

Then we were shipped across to Ostend, Belgium and were moved up to join A Company, 51st Highland Division, 1st Battalion.

The day after it was Christmas.

Half way through the meal we were told by the commanding officer that we were going into action, to fight at a small town, Laroche in the Ardennes - The Battle of the Bulge.

It was so cold and we lost many men.

We then fought through the Black Forest and then various other places including Goch, where I met my brother Alf who was in the Reconnaissance Corp attached to the 53rd Welsh Regiment.

My final battle was over the Rhine River, which we crossed on March 24, 1945, and took a village called Speldorf.

The lad I grew up with was killed near me.

I remember looking at him and saying: "How can I tell your mother Cecil?"