205565 Cpl. Douglas Henry Gardner British Army The Black Watch from:Birmingham My father 'Harry' Gardner fought in the Second World War in The Black Watch. He signed up when he was 17 and joined a local regiment but they lost a lot of tro0ps and were merged with The Black Watch. He did not talk much about the war and it was hard to get informaton out of him but I do know he served in Egypt (he hated the place)and he was in the D-Day landings.He also had the choice to be 'Mentioned in Dispatches' or have the weekend off instead,he took the latter! He rose to the rank of corporal and when crossing the Rhine he got shot in the back of the neck and the bullet came out of his cheek. Luckily it missed all of his vital organs. He was also shot in the leg while running back for help. For this he lost his stripes! He was discharged from the Army as A1 Fit and didn't get a penny compensation,though they said if he stayed in he could become a Sergeant, he told them where to go!! He died in 1997 and to me he was a hero.
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