205851 Pte. Ronald Frederick "Shep" Shepherd British Army 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry from:Kensington, London My father (who died in March 2000) was called up in October 1939 and after training joined 9th Platoon, "A" Company, 8th Battalion, 151st Brigade, 50th (Northumberland) Division & embarked for France on 7th March 1940 (his 21st birthday).
He took part in the Battle of Arras in May 1940 which contributed to the Germans stopping outside Dunkirk for 2 days.
During the retreat to Dunkirk he "found" a bicycle which he used for a few days. He left it by a tree while he went for a call of nature and was angry to find that someone had stolen "his" bike.
After retraining, etc, he went via Durban, SA & Suez Canal to North Africa.
Fought in all major battles in North Africa including:
Gazala, Mersa Matru and El Alemein.
Posted back to England May 1942 for training for D-Day.
Landed on D+1 (7th June 1944) driving a lorry so didn't get feet wet!
His diary entry for that day was: Landed.
He 'lost' 3 rifles during his 6 years including one on 10th June 1944 when top blown off by a shell which killed a man 2ft away.
He took part in battles at Tilly, Villers Bocage, through to Belgium and on to Arnhem, Nijmegen & Gheel. He finished the war as a driver with the RASC in Hamburg.
Medals awarded: 1939-1945 Star; The Africa Star with 8th Army clasp; The France and Germany Star; The Defence Medal; 1939-1945 Medal. Also the French 'Dunkerque 1940' Medal. He was one of the few soldiers who started out in the BEF, was evacuated at Dunkirk and returned to Normandy in 1944.
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