Latest news with #LightInfantry
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.
The Guardian
25-02-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Arnold Fothergill obituary
My father, Arnold Fothergill, who has died aged 85, was a proud Yorkshireman and travelled the world with the British army before returning to his roots. His 22 years of military service with the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, the Royal Green Jackets and then the newly formed Light Infantry took him all over England, to Northern Ireland, and further afield to Germany, Yemen, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Eventually he gained the rank of Warrant Officer 2nd Class, but his happiest time was as Bugle Major. In 1972 he was appointed a military MBE. His citation was an official secret but his gallantry was further tested after the investiture when he was selected to dance with Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. It was not an experience Yorkshire or the army had prepared him for, and he had to be hastily taught a few dance steps before being dispatched to the dancefloor. Arnold was born in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, the son of Nellie (nee Goldthorpe) and Freddie Fothergill, and a younger brother to Jean and Marion. At 14 he started work at the local textile mill with his sights set on becoming a textile tuner, in charge of maintaining the looms and machinery. But all that was to change when he was called up in 1958 as one of the last intake of national service and found a second family in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. The end of army service brought my parents – Arnold married Sandra Longbottom on the somewhat inauspicious date of 1 April 1967 – back to Yorkshire for a number of managerial roles. Once my mother retired, they decided to sell the house, buy a flat and chase the sun in Spain. They spent many happy years there, gardening and walking the dog before returning for good, around 2012, to Yorkshire. As well as travel, my father loved military history, current affairs and rugby league. He liked nothing better than to sit in his armchair watching a match on a Friday night before telling us how much better the game was in his day. In civilian life, he was a loyal Guardian reader. He would come home from work, sit on the sofa with a cup of tea and read the paper, then a broadsheet, cover to cover. After dinner, my parents would tackle the 'quick' crossword. Dad's personality could be a mixed bag. He was warm and generous but he could also be difficult at times. A diagnosis in the late 1990s of PTSD, a result of his military service, came as no surprise. His decline through dementia meant that in his last few years his personality changed. But throughout all of these struggles the real person was always there in the background. He is survived by Sandra, and his three children – my brothers, Mark and Ashley, and me – seven grandchildren, Edward, Elise, Laurence, Evan, Freddie, Florence and Nellie, and two great-grandchildren, Leo and Frankie, and by his sister, Marion.
