University of Oxford
Browse

Memories of the war - Robert Frank Palôt

online resource
posted on 2024-06-05, 19:54 authored by Their Finest Hour Project Team

I have brought in and had photographed my father's (Robert Frank Palôt) whip and spurs.

He joined the Royal Corp of Signals in 1938. All new recruits had to learn to drive and ride horses. They became mechanised as time went on. His main job was to be in and around London as a signalman.

I have given in today the telephone numbers for the anti-aircraft gun sites which protected London. During a raid the gun sites might be knocked out and telephone lines would be damaged. Dangerous job during the Blitz.

In 1943 he would go to France (which was occupied) with commando raiding parties. They would sneak over at night and try to capture a German for questioning. His role was as a radioman, who dealt with instructions from the boat and HQ. He was a climber and therefore useful on the team if they needed to navigate around cliffs.

I have brought along a picture of my mother and father getting married. This was on 18.06.1940.

Family story:
The family originated from Guernsey in the Channel Islands and one of his uncle's brothers was caught listening to a radio during occupation and 'disappeared' and was never seen again. The people of Guernsey suffered hugely under the occupation and many starved. My father mentioned making coffee out of ground-up acorns.

History

Item list and details

1. Photographs of my father's whip and spurs. 2. The telephone numbers for the anti-aircraft gunsites which protected London. 3. A picture of my mother and father getting married. This was on 18.06.1940 [missing] 4. Father's hat.

Person the story/items relate to

Robert Frank Palôt

Person who shared the story/items

Iain Leslie Palôt

Relationship between the subject of the story and its contributor

The story is about the contributor's father

Type of submission

Shared at Lancing Prep Worthing, West Sussex on 16 September 2023.

Record ID

97149 | LAN015