A message with approval from Janet Jsafarovic. Mr Rhodes may join us sometime on the 6th June.
My dad is Mr Donald Rhodes, born in 1920. He was a regular infantry soldier with the Lincolnshire regiment during and before the war. Originally posted to India, as a boy musician ( he was 14!) Later taking part in the Burma campaign, among other decorations he holds the Burma Star. Posted back from India, and knowing little about the war in Europe he was almost immediately put on a landing craft ( he thinks at New Haven), and landed at Sword beach. From where, him and what few surviving comrades there were made it to Caen. He considers one of the reasons he survived was because he managed to get ashore dry. The landing craft grounded by some wreckage on the beach and they managed to keep out of the water in the mad scramble that it surely was. My father also fought at Arnhem, Nijmegen and was at the liberation of Breda-for which cities he was awarded the freedom a number of years ago. He's pretty fit for his age, doesn't see very well and is hard of hearing, but the rest is working pretty well. For the DDay commemorations he will be based at Caen where family have rented a holiday home.
In the meantime, the captain and crew of the good ship Tutunui have made an early start and are awaiting clement weather at Brunsbuttel, at the Elbe end of the Kiel canal.
Kind regards
Janet
In the meantime, the captain and crew of the good ship Tutunui have made an early start and are awaiting clement weather at Brunsbuttel, at the Elbe end of the Kiel canal.
Kind regards
Janet