208121 L/Sgt Alan Lewis Marmont British Army 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards from:Minchinhampton, Glos. (d.11th Aug 1944) My uncle, Alan Lewis Marmont, joined the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards in 1937. His Regiment was forced to retreat from the Belgian border to Dunkirk 1940 and was amongst the last to be evacuated from the beseiged port.
The 2nd Bn were part of the 5th Guards Armoured Brigade who fought in the Falaise Pocket Battle. He and several colleagues were killed when their tank ran over a land mine on August 11th 1944 near the Vassey to Vire road. Aged 24 he was originally buried at Burcy 4 miles north east of Vire before being re-buried at the CWG cemetrry at St Charles de Percy grave number III.F.3. The cemetery is the southern most of CWG cemeteries of the Normandy campaign.
Prior to the start of WW2, Alan took part in trooping the colour and was featured in pictures in the Daily Express during his preparation for the troop, he was pictured by the newspaper on Guard duty outside Buckingham Palace when crowds gathered outside the palace following Mr Chamberlain's return from his meeting with Hitler. This picture is proudly displayed in my home. I also have my uncle's scarlet tunic.
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