Cpl. Barnes
British Army 1st Btn. Dorset Regiment
I am sorry to say that my father passed away 10 years ago and, like many of his generation, did not talk about what he went through, except in the company of, “Those who were there.” I do know that he was on Malta during the siege and was part of the 1st Battalion. It was given the title, “1st Malta Brigade” along with, "2nd Devons" and, "1st Hampshires"., and as such my father wore the Maltese cross on one sleeve, below any other brigade insignia. For most of the rest of the war that was 50th Division, (231st Infantry Brigade). The Dorset Regiment, (Malta Brigade), took part in the landings in Sicily, Italy and D Day, and was involved right through to “the Island”, before the battalion was returned to England as a training battalion.
The preface of the Dorset book, “Three Assault Landings”, pays tribute to all “footsloggers” with the verse by "A. P Herbert"
New men, new weapons, bear the brunt;
New slogans gild the ancient game
The infantry are still in front
And mud and dust are much the same
Hail, humble footman, poised to fly
Across the West, or any, wall
Proud, plodding, peerless P.B.I.
The foulest, finest job of all!
Amazing how nothing has changed in 60 odd years
Cpl. Barnes, Dorset Regiment, revisits Normandy 50 years after D-Day.
