Fred Smith's Desert Rat Memoir

Fred Smith - Chapter 1

For as long as I can remember Dad has recounted his wartime stories whenever asked, usually to an audience...

Fred Smith - Chapter 2 Getting Hitched and off to War

After what amounted to nearly a year of training on the 15th August 1941 Fred boarded the P & O...

Fred Smith - Chapter 3 A Shock to the System

Fred remembers the bizarre sight of one or two British soldiers guarding and moving columns of two or three...

Fred Smith - Chapter 4 At Home and Alamein

During the confusion of battle and subsequent retreat Fred was driving a 15 cwt truck full of supplies for...

Fred Smith - Chapter 5 Fred Takes a Hit and the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Desert.

Fred Smith - Chapter 5 Fred Takes a Hit and the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Desert. The airman then asked...

Fred Smith - Chapter 6 Italy and Back to Blighty

Shortly after landing Fred and his friend Charlie Parker decide to move foreword in their scout car on a...

Fred Smith - Chapter 7 D-Day, Holland a Bridge Too Far

Fred went with a sergeant and a wireless operator in his scout car and taking a Bren Gun... On the...

Fred Smith - Chapter 8 Into Germany, Belsen.

It was around this time that Fred was driving Lieutenant Fawcus, his Commanding Officer, in a scout car on...

Fred Smith - Chapter 9 The End

Fred and Doris went to Blackpool for one weeks really good holiday and blew the lot despite Fred having a...