Ronald Edward Vallis

Ron was visited at home by Capt. Gaunt on 5th June 1944, the day before ‘D Day’. Capt Gaunt informed him that he would be collected by staff car the following day and that he should then collect Eddie Wrixon and that they would be taken away for active duty. The next day he was working in the fields “picking tiddies” as usual when the staff car arrived. The driver escorted him to his home where he acted like an officers ‘batman’ and helped Ron to dress in his uniform, giving him a shave in the process. They then collected Eddie and set off. Their journey took them deep into the Purbecks, past Corfe and onto the hills overlooking Poole to an artillery base. The base was covered in camouflage netting and they were allocated a billet in a tent. They were there for eight days and were tasked with guarding a door into the hillside. He never knew what was behind the door and never felt that he could ask. All that they ever saw was the Hospital Ships going to and fro along the coast. On the last day he was instructed to present himself to a Red Cap Officer who paid him eight days Army pay. They were then collected and taken to Corfe where they were given a meal in the pub. The best bit was that his boss on the farm also gave him his full pay for the week!