Latest news with #5thDukeofCornwall
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'I woke up in a bath two days after VE Day'
A veteran said he drank so much when celebrating the end of World War Two that he woke up two days later in a bath in Belgium. Douglas Cracknell from Cransford in Suffolk, was 19 years old on VE Day on 8 May 1945, which marked the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in Europe. He served with the 5th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry as a rifleman and was in Bruges when the end of the war in Europe was announced. He said people went "berserk". Mr Cracknell, now aged 99, was recently awarded the Legion d'Honneur by the French government in a ceremony at Framlingham College near his home, which he said he was "amazed" by. "I was on a guard duty and everybody went berserk. That was a really wonderful time," Mr Cracknell said of Victory in Europe Day, 80 years ago. "To think the way people acted at that time was fantastic... [they were] drinking and singing and dancing with each other in the street; it was marvellous. "We had several drinks and I think I probably lost about two days of my life because I was sat in the bath when I came to." Mr Cracknell was enlisted in the Army when he was 18 [Contributed] Mr Cracknell said as a younger teenager he did not expect to be enlisted to fight and said his father told him that he expected it to be over before he reached fighting age. However, he joined the Army and took part in landings at Arromanches in Normandy on 22 June 1944, shortly after the first D-Day landings, and fought across north-west Europe. They faced bloody battles including taking part in Operation Jupiter with the capture of Hill 112, a key strategic point in Normandy that cost the lives of 10,000 men. Mr Cracknell was also injured during several points of the war including shrapnel wounds to his face and a temporary loss of hearing. Mr Cracknell was awarded the Legion d'Honneur this year by the French government for his efforts in the war [Contributed] Mr Cracknell was keen to share his story to ensure people today knew what veterans went through. "There's only a few of us left from that era," he continued. "I haven't had an easy time, but I haven't had a hard time either. "I've been able to bear it all, but some of them broke down. I was fortunate I think that I got through it. "Some nights I sit here on my own and think about my mates and what that would have been like if they were all here. I think it would have been lovely. "I think people should really know what others went through to save them." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Queen says her father was ‘lucky' despite being shot in the face during war
Queen Camilla has revealed her father's near-death experience during the Second World War, describing him as "so lucky" to have survived a facial gunshot wound. The revelation came during a conversation with veteran Douglas Cracknell at Clarence House, broadcast as part of the BBC's VE Day coverage. Major Bruce Shand, the Queen's father, served with the 12th Lancers and was twice decorated with the Military Cross for his bravery. His first award came in 1940 during the harrowing retreat to Dunkirk, and the second in 1942 for his service in North Africa. While the Queen did not elaborate on the circumstances surrounding her father's injury, her comment underscores the dangers he faced during the conflict. She told Mr Cracknell: 'My father, who was captured at El Alamein, he was shot at and 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.' The 99-year-old responded: 'I always done what my father told me to do… Keep your head down.' Last week, The Queen sat down with veteran Douglas Cracknell at Clarence House ahead of #VEDay80 commemorations. Douglas was awarded the Legion d'Honneur for his service during the Second World War, when he served as a rifleman in the 5th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.… — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 5, 2025 '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,' the Queen replied, laughing. Reading an extract of her father's diary, Camilla 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,' she continued. The Queen told Mr Cracknell that her father 'never' talked to her about the war after he returned home. 'But I think really it should be talked about,' the veteran responded. 'We need it for future generations,' Camilla said, adding that passing down stories from the war to younger people was 'very important because they wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for all of you'. Earlier in the conversion, the Queen admired Mr Cracknell's Legion d'Honneur medal and said he should be 'very proud' of it. Of his memories of VE Day, the veteran recalled: 'I was in Bruges and they read out that the war was over and then that was chaos.' 'I woke up two days later in a barn,' he added, laughing.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WW2 veteran awarded France's highest honour
A 99-year old veteran has been awarded France's highest military distinction in recognition of his service during World War Two. Douglas Charles Cracknell, from Cransford, near Framlingham, Suffolk has been awarded the Legion d'Honneur by the French government. Vicky Dann, Mr Cracknell's granddaughter, said he "landed in Normandy in late June 1944 and fought alongside his comrades across north-west Europe, whilst taking part in some of the fiercest and bloodiest battles of the entire conflict". On the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the then French President François Hollande pledged to honour all those British veterans who had served in his country during the war. Mr Cracknell, who was part of the 5th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry as a rifleman, landed in Arromanches, Normandy, on 22 June 1944. Ms Dann said the family had previously applied for the medal for her grandfather but been unsuccessful due to a lack of information about his service. But with help from a friend in the military, they managed to piece together more details about his experiences. These included fighting for control of strategic positions, coming under mortar fire and pushing into Germany. Mr Cracknell was wounded twice during the war. The first time was in the Netherlands when a bullet hit the weapon he was operating and wounded his face. Later, he was in Hamburg when a shell blast caused shrapnel wounds and a temporary loss of hearing. It was while he was on leave that he met Sheila Dix, who asked him for a cigarette. They married two years later and remained together for 70 years until she died in 2020. Ms Dann said her grandfather was "overjoyed" to have been awarded the honour, "not just for himself but for all those men who lost their lives from his regiment and throughout the rest of the war". She added: "It's so important that these people get recognition for the things that they went through." Mr Cracknell will receive his medal at a ceremony at Framlingham College, where he worked as a boy. The presentation will be made by the French military attaché. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. D-Day veteran,105, receives France's highest honour 'Remarkable' D-Day veteran dies after 100th birthday Man embarks on charity walk for Normandy veterans
BBC News
13-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Suffolk WW2 veteran awarded France's highest order of merit
A 99-year old veteran has been awarded France's highest military distinction in recognition of his service during World War Charles Cracknell, from Cransford, near Framlingham, Suffolk has been awarded the Legion d'Honneur by the French Dann, Mr Cracknell's granddaughter, said he "landed in Normandy in late June 1944 and fought alongside his comrades across north-west Europe, whilst taking part in some of the fiercest and bloodiest battles of the entire conflict".On the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the then French President François Hollande pledged to honour all those British veterans who had served in his country during the war. Mr Cracknell, who was part of the 5th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry as a rifleman, landed in Arromanches, Normandy, on 22 June Dann said the family had previously applied for the medal for her grandfather but been unsuccessful due to a lack of information about his service. But with help from a friend in the military, they managed to piece together more details about his experiences. These included fighting for control of strategic positions, coming under mortar fire and pushing into Cracknell was wounded twice during the first time was in the Netherlands when a bullet hit the weapon he was operating and wounded his face. Later, he was in Hamburg when a shell blast caused shrapnel wounds and a temporary loss of was while he was on leave that he met Sheila Dix, who asked him for a cigarette. They married two years later and remained together for 70 years until she died in 2020. Ms Dann said her grandfather was "overjoyed" to have been awarded the honour, "not just for himself but for all those men who lost their lives from his regiment and throughout the rest of the war".She added: "It's so important that these people get recognition for the things that they went through."Mr Cracknell will receive his medal at a ceremony at Framlingham College, where he worked as a presentation will be made by the French military attaché. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
