Past Times Project.co.uk - interacting with all aspects of Great Britain's past from around the world
Free
membership
 
Find past friends.|Lifestory library.|Find heritage visits.|Gene Junction.|Seeking companions.|Nostalgia knowledge.|Seeking lost persons.







Home <> Lifestory Library <> Explore By Location <> <> <> Fleet Air Arm Rigger Loses A Leg




  Contributor: Harold TaylorView/Add comments



Harold Taylor was born almost a decade after the First World War and started life at no. 8 Woodside, Arundel. Just before he reached 2 years old, his family, including 5 siblings, moved to 10 Alexandra Terrace, Chichester. Here Harold recalls a tragic accident concerning his cousin.

My cousin, Cuthbert (Bert) was a rigger in the Fleet Air Arm and served aboard the Glorious. He was on weekend leave and motorcycled from Plymouth, intending to spend it with his parents in Arundel. Outside a garage, he was in collision with an unlit army vehicle, which resulted in him having a leg amputated. Because of our proximity, I visited him at the hospital regularly.

Ironically, the accident may have saved his life, as his vessel was involved in the Norwegian Campaign and was sunk, with heavy loss of life. Bert was subsequently discharged from the forces and later married one of his nurses.

I cannot remember what he did initially, but later, with the assistance of the Duke, Bert operated a garage in Arundel. The Duke eventually sold out to a national undertaking. Bert was offered a responsible job, but decided against it and started up on his own at the Slipe, a premises that I think he ran until his death in the early 1980's.
View/Add comments






To add a comment you must first login or join for free, up in the top left corner.


Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Site map
Rob Blann | Worthing Dome Cinema