Queen tells veteran how her 'lucky' dad survived being shot in face during war
Queen Camilla has recalled how her dad was shot through the side of his face when he was captured in Egypt during World War II.
In a conversation broadcast by the BBC as part of its VE Day coverage, she spoke to veteran Douglas Cracknell about her family's experience of the war.
Major Bruce Shand, the Queen's father, was awarded the Military Cross twice for his actions during the retreat to Dunkirk and in North Africa.
He was serving in the 12th Lancers in El Alamein when he was shot at.
The Queen said: 'The bullet went through one side of his face, came out the other and he was so lucky because he didn't hit his teeth or his tongue.'
Mr Cracknell, 99, replied: 'I always done what my father told me to do… Keep your head down.'
Laughing, the Queen said: 'Keep your head down. Yes, well that's what I'd like to say is possibly very sensible advice, because here you are today to tell the tale.'
She recalled how her father never spoke about his experiences in the war after he returned home.
The veteran responded: 'But I think really it should be talked about.'
Queen Camilla agreed, saying: 'We need it for future generations.' More Trending
Though her dad did not tell her stories from the conflict, she was able to learn about them from his wartime diary.
Reading an extract, the Queen said: 'Letters from home were very much the linchpins of our existence and the arrival of the post to regular intervals never failed in its excitement.
'I still recall the thrill some weeks after coming into the camp when somebody appeared in the library to tell me that there were a dozen letters waiting for me on my bed.'
'I remain eternally grateful to my many correspondents, family and otherwise.'
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: All the times Prince Louis stole the show – his most iconic and adorable moments
MORE: I ate like a WWII Land Girl for a week to see if it helped me muster the Blitz spirit
MORE: Is VE Day 2025 a bank holiday in the UK?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
D-Day veterans mark anniversary to ‘remember our friends who never came home'
A chaplain whose grandfather fought in the Second World War commemorated the 81st anniversary of D-Day by warning 'we forget it at our peril'. The Rev Simon d'Albertanson, a Royal Navy chaplain and the chaplain for the Spirit of Normandy Trust, led a memorial service at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, describing D-Day as a 'seminal moment in history'. He reminded veterans, officials and members of the public that the legacy of D-Day was vitally important given the conflict and 'troubled times that we live in'. The Normandy landings took place on June 6 1944, when Allied forces opened a Second Front by invading Nazi-occupied France. A total of 4,414 Allied troops were killed on D-Day itself. Mr d'Albertanson said: 'This was a seminal moment in history, and we forget it at our peril. 'There's a legacy that builds from the different conflicts, and we live in very troubled times right now, and we need men and women who are fighting for peace. 'As a Christian, one of the lines in the Bible is 'Blessed are the peacemakers'. 'We're called to make peace and sometimes that means we have to bring violence, but that's the last resort. 'We want to be peacemakers.' Two of the chaplain's own relatives fought during the Second World War. His grandfather, Fred Hawker, joined the Royal Marines in 1942 and served on a number of ships including HMS Ark Royal, while his great-uncle, a Royal Navy sailor, lost his life during the Battle of the Denmark Strait. Mr d'Albertanson said: 'It's an absolute honour and a privilege to be a part of this. 'This is all about the veterans and honouring the fallen, those who gave their lives, for our freedom. 'Being here brings it to life. 'It makes you realise what you're involved in, the men and women of the armed forces today – and as chaplains we go with them.' One veteran in attendance, Ken Hay MBE, 99, was just 18 when he landed at Courseulles-sur-Mer on D-Day +5. He was captured on the night of July 7-8 and was taken to Zabrze in Poland where he worked as a prisoner of war in a coal mine. As the Russians approached, the prisoners were taken to a new location, approximately 1,000 miles away, during which many of them died. Eventually they were liberated by American troops and Mr Hay returned to the UK via Reims, arriving on May 4. He laid a wreath at the memorial service in Ver-sur-Mer alongside other veterans. Mr Hay said: 'Even though the 80th anniversary has passed, we veterans still feel it is our duty to come back here and remember all our friends who never came home. 'We get applauded, even though they are the ones who gave it all. 'Sharing my stories with children in the UK and France is something I am very passionate about. 'We are the age of their great-grandparents – we experienced it, understand it and know that it should never happen again.' Defence Secretary John Healey also attended events commemorating D-Day, alongside politicians from the United States and France. He said: 'We forever owe an enormous debt to the British and Allied forces who landed in Normandy 81 years ago today, determined to defeat Nazi tyranny and restore peace to western Europe. 'As we reset the nation's contract with our armed forces, we will continue to remember all those who served to defend our values.' Nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed in France on D-Day. Of those, 73,000 were from the United States and 83,000 from Britain and Canada. Forces from several other countries were also involved, including French troops fighting with General Charles de Gaulle. The Allies faced around 50,000 German forces.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Africa's week in pictures: 30 May
A selection of the week's best photos from across the African continent and beyond: From the BBC in Africa this week: Unpacking the South African land law that so inflames TrumpOn the hunt for Tiger, the fugitive linked to illegal gold mine where 78 diedInside the world's worst country to give birth Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
BreakingNews.ie
7 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Veterans attend Normandy commemorations on 81st anniversary of D-Day
Veterans gathered in Normandy on Friday to mark the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings – a pivotal moment of the Second World War that eventually led to the collapse of Adolf Hitler's regime. Along the coastline and near the D-Day landing beaches, tens of thousands of onlookers attended the commemorations, which included parachute jumps, flyovers, remembrance ceremonies, parades and historical re-enactments. Advertisement Many were there to cheer the ever-dwindling number of surviving veterans in their late 90s and older. All remembered the thousands who died. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth commemorated the anniversary of the D-Day landings, in which American soldiers played a leading role, with veterans at the American cemetery overlooking the shore in the village of Colleville-sur-Mer. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth lays a wreath of flowers during the ceremony in Colleville-sur-Mer (Thomas Padilla/AP/PA) The June 6 1944 invasion of Nazi-occupied France used the largest-ever armada of ships, troops, planes and vehicles to breach Hitler's defences in western Europe. A total of 4,414 Allied troops were killed on D-Day itself. In the ensuing Battle of Normandy, 73,000 Allied forces were killed and 153,000 wounded. Advertisement The battle – and especially Allied bombings of French villages and cities – killed around 20,000 French civilians between June and August 1944. The exact German casualties are unknown but historians estimate between 4,000 and 9,000 men were killed, wounded or missing during the D-Day invasion alone. 'The heroism, honour and sacrifice of the Allied forces on D-Day will always resonate with the US armed forces and our allies and partners across Europe,' said Lieutenant General Jason T Hinds, deputy commander of US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa. Guests attend the ceremony at the US cemetery (Thomas Padilla/AP/PA) 'Let us remember those who flew and fell. Let us honour those who survived and came home to build a better world. Advertisement 'Let us ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain by meeting today's challenges with the same resolve, the same clarity of purpose and the same commitment to freedom.' Nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed on D-Day. Of those, 73,000 were from the United States and 83,000 from Britain and Canada. Forces from several other countries were also involved, including French troops fighting with General Charles de Gaulle. The Allies faced around 50,000 German forces. Advertisement More than two million Allied soldiers, sailors, pilots, medics and other people from a dozen countries were involved in the overall Operation Overlord, the battle to wrest western France from Nazi control that started on D-Day.
