The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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209364 S/Sgt. Frank William "Tiny" Bray British Army Royal West Kent Regiment from:Maidstone Frank Bray was a regular soldier of the Royal West Kents, he sailed with the BEF and Battalion Headquarters set up in a large house south east of Petegem, Belgium. The Listening post of Frank's platoon was in a ditch before the railway looking south towards German advance.(see modern picture). Early movement on their front lead to a Bren gunner killing a German Officer, who was unaware of the listening post position. this led to some probing by German troops and the occupation of a farmhouse about 150 yards to the south of Frank's position. The Platoon's bren gunner fired regularly through farmhouse walls. The Platoon were running low on ammunitions, water and food and the headquarters to their rear was withdrawing with the regiment. Frank was caught in the farmhouse, he had been originally looking for food and water, but ended up bandaging a German soldier's rear end, who had been shot up by the platoon's bren gunner. He believed that the German soldier's comments saved his life when other soldiers entered the farmhouse. The interviewing German officer knew my father's regiment and that he was a regular. His platoon was allowed to surrender, they were isolated with no food or ammunition and the regiment had withdrawn. They also could see the massive German troop resources in the vicinity, preparing for further forward movement. They were taken to a point where they joined the long line of prisoners following the route to the prison forts in Poland. He was shot at for trying to pick up a potato shortly afterwards. Add to this record.  Related Content: Royal West Kent Regiment (Queens own) Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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