212708 Pte. Thomas Wilson "Tucker" Elliott British Army 3 Commando from:Whitehaven, Cumbria My father enlisted in the Border Regiment on 2nd March 1938 at Whitehaven, Cumbria, aged 17 years, having lied about his date of birth. He saw action in Dunkirk, Norway, Dieppe and other locations marked 'special services' on his army records. He was captured at Dieppe and incarcerated in Stalag V111-B, suffering from bullet and shrapnel wounds. In 1945 he was forced onto one of the notorious death marches from which he made his escape and was eventually picked up by American forces in Czechoslovakia. Like so many others, he never spoke about his wartime experiences although there are one or two that we have picked up from others along the way. At Dieppe he was part of the 'Yellow Beach' offensive, alighting at Dieppe and scaling the cliff at Bernaval. As Dad and his comrades scaled the sheer cliff face, German gunners were in position and waiting. This is when Dad suffered his injuries and he was captured in a corn field at the top of the cliffs. Whilst in Stalag V111-B he managed to steal a baked potato and when challenged by a guard promptly hid the contraband in his clothing, the guard pinned him up against a wall severely burning his chest. He treated his own infected wounds with maggots and on repatriation to the UK he was severely malnourished. I am forever in his debt and very proud to say he was my Dad.
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