On this day in Yorkshire 1944

“I am looking forward to the time when I can play for Keighley again; I have played Rugger ever since I could run about,” said Sapper Ellis to a Yorkshire Post reporter when seen at Leeds Infirmary yesterday.

He one of number who have Just arrived home from Normandy. “ I was sent back with shell shock,” he said, “becoming a casualty almost 12 months to a day after my brother in the Gordon Highlanders was killed in Sicily.”

Ellis, who lives at Hillcrest Road. Queensbury, was a plumber before joining ‘the R.E.s nearly four years ago.

A married man, he is hoping to be home in time for the first addition to the family.

German’s French Wives

“What surprised some of was to see the wives of German soldiers coming in to surrender after their husbands had been captured.” said Pte. Leslie Brown, of the Durham Light Infantry, who lives at Mushroom Lane. Sheffield.

“They were mostly French girls who had married the Germans during the occupation.” Brown was wounded just beyond Tilly.

“I am not a Yorkshireman.” remarked Sapper K. Hutchins, of the Royal Engineers, “but I am sure that my section leader, L.-Sergt. Hutchinson, of Bingley, was captured just before Caen fell.

We were engaged clearing rubble, and he went out on his motor-cycle to reconnoitre beyond the barrier when we saw number of Germans coming towards him.”

Casualties at Bradford

Private Lionel Richardson, son of the Rev. B. Richardson (Chaplain to Wakefield Gaol) has arrived Westwood Emergency Hospital. Bradford, among the wounded from Normandy.

He looked surprisingly fit in spite of a leg wound. His home is at 116 Cross Gates Lane. Seacroft, Leeds.

He joined the Army in December. 1942, and went to France on the Tuesday after D-Day with The Durham Light Infantry.

Driver H. Ransom. R.C.S., Lacy Street. Armley, Leeds, another patient in St. Luke’s, has a bullet wound in the foot. He has been in the Caen sector, where he was attached to an armoured division.

Sapper Ronald Haigh. R.E . of Bank Bottom. Shelley. Huddersfleld. is suffering from shock sustained In the Tilly sector as the result of mortar fire.

Lance Corporal John Wallace, whose home is at Houghley Place. Wyther Estate, Leeds, is suffering from shock from mortar fire at Hill 112. near Caen.

He pays a great tribute, as do others with him at St. Luke s, to the work of the Jeep stretcher bearers.

“These men seem to care nothing for enemy fire, and they have you away in no time.”

Driver Frank Brown. R.A.C., Norman Crescent. Sunnyfields, Doncaster, also suffering from shock received at Hill 112. Driver Brown was a member of a Churchill tank crew.

Saw 1,000 Bomber Raid

The night before Caen fell 1.000 R.A.F heavy bombers bombed the town and German fortifications on the outskirts. Two Yorkshiremen at present the Bradford Royal Infirmary who arrived in the latest convoy of wounded from Normandy — Trooper John Whitham, of Huddersfield Road. Meltham. near Huddersfield. and Driver Donald Sparrow, of William Street. Park Gate, Rotherham witnessed the raid and described it as “devastating and incredibly thorough.”

Both men found the French people “a little quiet in their attitude.”

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