This is my Father, C/Sgt James Atkin (X103416) who was born in Salford in 1909 and died in Prescot in 1976, thirty years after demob. He worked for a Manchester mens clothing supplier as a rep. driving all over the North West until he retired. He had three children, two sons and a daughter, two grandsons whom he met, and three grandsons who were born long after his death. He remained immensely proud of the Royals and of his time serving, but he didn't talk much about the war. He did mention Petit Enfer as a classic RM action, pressing home a determined attack against a fortified position, crossing wire, minefields, and trenches, clearing houses and causing the enemy to surrender withour sustaining any losses. He also mentioned the terrible losses sustained by B Troop in the Rots action which obviously left its mark. I remeber as a young teenager suggesting that he must have been disappointed when the D-Day cliff-climbing raids on the gun batteries were cancelled. He laughed and said 'No we were all...
This is my Father, C/Sgt James Atkin (X103416) who was born in Salford in 1909 and died in Prescot in 1976, thirty years after demob. He worked for a Manchester mens clothing supplier as a rep. driving all over the North West until he retired. He had three children, two sons and a daughter, two grandsons whom he met, and three grandsons who were born long after his death. He remained immensely proud of the Royals and of his time serving, but he didn't talk much about the war. He did mention Petit Enfer as a classic RM action, pressing home a determined attack against a fortified position, crossing wire, minefields, and trenches, clearing houses and causing the enemy to surrender withour sustaining any losses. He also mentioned the terrible losses sustained by B Troop in the Rots action which obviously left its mark. I remeber as a young teenager suggesting that he must have been disappointed when the D-Day cliff-climbing raids on the gun batteries were cancelled. He laughed and said 'No we were all deligheted'. I was confused at first thinking these crack troops would be looking forward to such a risky and demanding operation but I suddenly realised on that day that these guys actually wanted to live as long as possible just like the rest of us! The difference between them and ordinary folks is that when the need arose they would put their lives on the line in the most challenging of circumstances. If the coastal battery raids had gone ahead most of them would probably have died; well done the RAF for taking them out! Jimmy appears in at least five other photos in this excellent album and I still have his Green Beret.
Posted by David Atkin on Thu 10 Feb 2011 03:35:17 EST
This is 45 RM.
Posted by stephane SAINT-MARTIN on Sun 01 Nov 2009 15:46:47 EST
Fred SELBY 40 RM cdo
FRED SELBY 40 RM cdo
Posted by stephane saint-martin on Tue 07 Aug 2007 11:24:58 EDT
JOHN LEWIS 40 RM cdo
John LEWIS 40 RM cdo ( the medal with ribbon blue white red is for DIEPPE )
Posted by stephane saint-martin on Tue 07 Aug 2007 11:24:29 EDT
