Name: David

When did you join up?

I joined the army in 1941. I joined the 10^th Battalion, Cameronian Scottish Rifles and had a few months training in the UK – the Lake District, actually. We were   shipped out to India to reinforce the first battalion the Cameronians, who were in India as part of Wingate’s expedition; we were doing jungle training in order to organise Wingate’s second expedition.

Completed training in Rashi then caught jaundice, so I missed going in with the 119^th independent brigade.

Transferred to King’s 2^nd Scottish Borderers 2^nd division India

Japanese had surrounded this Indian division in Arakan when we reinforced them. We went in to relieve them which we did.

Japanese broke through at Tahinim. Transferred us towards Infal and the Naga Hills (head-hunters) to cut the Japanese off.  Several encounters with them. The Japanese hold was broken. I caught a disease called tropical sprue where the body is unable to absorb fat. I went down from 15st to 8st so I landed in the hospital in Poona.

Where were you on VE day?

Waiting in hospital ship in Bombay on 8 May

How did you hear the news that the war had ended?

Radio, yes

Have you had any contact with German people since?

I’ve got a few German friends in this country not in Germany. Very good friends

What do you think of Twinning?

A good idea. I’ve never been to Bellême don’t have the same connections in Europe as a lot of you here do