The 253rd

Tom McCooey

Follow the journey of the 253rd West Lancashire Field Company, Royal Engineers from D-Day to VE Day. The Lancashire lads supported the rest of the Army, bridging rivers, using explosives to destroy bridges or clearing routes through minefields - often under fire. Hear from driver Lawrence Cliffe, speaking before his death in 2017. Stewart Brennan remembers his grandfather, William Gauckwin, who was a sapper, and Lorraine Gronkowska shares the story of her grandfather, Robert Hunter.

Episodes

  1. 05/06/2020

    VE Day 75 years on

    Follow the journey of the 253rd West Lancashire Field Company, Royal Engineers from D Day to VE Day. The Lancashire lads supported the rest of the Army, bridging rivers, using explosives to destroy bridges or clearing routes through minefields - often under fire. Hear from driver Lawrence Cliffe, speaking before his death in 2017. The veteran from St Helens gives his accounts on D Day, the attack of Troarn, being under fire while on guard duty in France and a close-scrape after his group were heard playing a piano. Stewart Brennan remembers his grandfather, William Gauckwin, who was a sapper in the 253rd. Hear of William's swim to safety at Dunkirk and Christmas 1944 in Venray on the west of the River Maas. And Lorraine Gronkowska shares stories from her grandfather, Robert Hunter, including arriving at Bergen-Belsen. Some of the stories are uplifting, some are heart-breaking, and they all need telling.

  • 1 Episode

About

Follow the journey of the 253rd West Lancashire Field Company, Royal Engineers from D-Day to VE Day. The Lancashire lads supported the rest of the Army, bridging rivers, using explosives to destroy bridges or clearing routes through minefields - often under fire. Hear from driver Lawrence Cliffe, speaking before his death in 2017. Stewart Brennan remembers his grandfather, William Gauckwin, who was a sapper, and Lorraine Gronkowska shares the story of her grandfather, Robert Hunter.

Information

  • Creator
    Tom McCooey
  • Episodes
    1
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Tom McCooey
  • Show Website
    The 253rd