Arthur, during those few years I spent caring for my father before he died, I started to record all his stories and memories about his wartime experiences.
I even managed to convince him to talk into his old tape recorder. So I've got loads of tapes but not yet sure how to transfer to my PC

My dad was only 18 when he got called up, and didn't return home to UK for over 8 years.
He was with the 8th Army and the Desert Rats in the North Africa campaigns under Montgomery.
After North Africa he was moved to head the invasions of Sicily and Italy, and later for a few unfortunates to head to the western front
and join the race to Berlin.

He had loads of stories to tell and even shared how he'd fell in love in Italy, and very nearly returned to live his life there.
In the spring of 1945, when he was just 23 he was mysteriously sent to the Western Front and served directly under Patton in the race for Berlin as a member of special forces.

To the day he died he never spoke a single word about those times in special forces. We only know that he fought long and hard to return to his home in Clipston in 1948.
He was haunted by his nightmares until the day he died.

Anyway, one of these days I have a plan to put all this together in a single source.

well that's the plan anyway. Maybe when I have more time as a retiree in the paradise islands.

Sorry to HiJack your thread Arthur, just struck a chord with me.