256226 Sgt. Leonard Alec James Davis British Army 1st Btn. East Riding Yeomanry from:Hull Len Davis was evacuated from Dunkirk and in the confusion was declared missing casualty number 282. Then his parents were sent a telegram saying he was missing in action. After two days he came back home to find his memorial was being organised!
As tank commander he was sent to various fronts including what the Americans call the Battle of the Bulge. He was one of the lucky ones who came through without a scratch. At the D Day landings he almost lost his life after a lct Captain ordered them out in deep water. Unable to swim, one of his comrades jumped in to rescue him as the ramp of the lct swung around and could have killed him. The first tank off the lct sank, even with the inflatable skirt. Another tracked vehicle followed which too sank. Later when the lct Captain had got himself together, he went closer to shore and the rest disembarked safely.
Len and his crew later worked on the tracked vehicle and brought it back to life when the tide had gone out. Like many other service men he didn't talk much about his exploits. What did sit on his mind a lot was the friends he had lost.
Until the end of his life he hated German men with a passion. He travelled throughout France, Germany, Holland and Belguim.
What did he see that created such a hatred?
He was my father-in-law and I could not be prouder of any man.
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