scarecrowe
Active Member
Posts: 390
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 9:11 pm
I worked with a Mr. Morgan and we would take the bus to work together. He was about 35 years my senior.
During one trip into work he recounted his experience in the second World War. Mr. Morgan was a member of the Canadian Black Watch. His mission was carried out at Dieppe. His brigade consisted of two hundred and twelve soldiers.
The landing craft door had not even opened and when a shell hit the commanding officer. In his dying breath, the commandeer told his soldiers in that craft that the world was counting on them to be strong and wished them God's speed. They prepared themselves for the onslaught as best they could. The landing craft door swung down and immediately several of his comrades were killed. Mr. Morgan jumped out into the water and ran towards the cliff and stood there against the cliff wall, trapped. He said he saw an entire brigade of Highlanders a few hundred metres down the beach, proudly march without nary a divergence from their stride towards the cliff with none of them surviving.
He stood there for two full days waiting to be rescued. When the rescuing landing craft arrived, he and his remaining troops ran towards it but many more of his fellow soldiers did not survive. The hatch closed and they were on their way but danger had not passed. Overhead, German aircraft were approaching to shoot at them. However, like guardian angels, Britsh aircraft soon arrived to chase the Germans away and the British aircraft followed them back to Britain making sure they were safe.
Mr. Morgan was one of eight who survived out of the original two hundred and twelve in that Black Watch brigade.
Thirty or so years later, Mr. Morgan was at a function at a Candidan Legion. While there, he overheard a retired Britsh officer talking about the Dieppe raid. This British officer said he was flying an aircraft to assist in the rescue of the ones trapped on that beach. Mr. Morgan upon hearing this thanked the gentlemen in helping save his life.
Mr. Morgan has since passed away but my memories of him will never fade.
Thank you Mr. Morgan and all the others whose sacrifices have given the gift of this freedom we now enjoy.
R.I.P.
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