"From boys to men": Roy Neal's service in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry

My father, Samuel Roy Neal (known as 'Roy'), was a Radio Operator (Radioman) in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion, in North Africa.

In 1943, he left the Brixham Home Guard and went to Salisbury Plain on 6 months training. Because they (he and his friends) were from Devon they weren't allowed to join the 'Devons', so went to join the Cornwalls instead.

They were put on the troopship 'Orion London', which brought them to the Bay of Algiers. Friend's memoir (included with submission) recalls that "Sun was shining on whole city of Algiers" and "never saw so many oranges".

As a battalion, they assembled and marched 20 miles to camp. Not allowed to wear boots on ship so had blisters after march. They were then put on cattle trucks and taken to the front line in Tunisia. They spent three days travelling on these trucks.

Roy could not find his book on his first morning there. Had hung them up on the truck and an 'Arab' took them. (Had to wear plimsoles instead)

Their next stop was facing Goering at El Alamein took over from Hampshire Regiment while still in plimsoles. Could see Germans "hills upon hills" who fired mortars - friend of Roy remarked that they both went "from boys to men" during that first action. Eight of their soldiers were wounded, and one of their sergeants was killed.

Roy was caught by a piece or mortar shrapnel and dragged back to the medics. He was then sent back to England - specifically to Musgrove, Taunton. He was convalescing next to a German in the hospital.

Out of 36 troops, eight survived and four went to hospital. Friend eventually volunteered to be a cook.