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Doug Laker took part in the Normandy Landings in June 1944, and travelled across France, finally crossing the Rhine, at a place called Wesel into Germany.

But two days later he was shot through the thigh when they were ambushed by retreating Germans. A soldier near to him died but he survived and was transported back to hospital in Eindhoven and eventually ended up in Lille.

One day he was recuperating in a deckchair on the roof of the hospital with two other soldiers. It was there that a fellow soldier appeared carrying champagne and Guinness to announce that the war was over.

He says that although they were aware that the Germans were retreating, and the war was being won, he had fully expected to be sent back to the fighting and what he felt most was a profound sense of relief that he could go home. However, he points out; he didn鈥檛 like the Guinness much and the other soldiers drank most of the champagne.

Having just married, he ended up serving several more years in the army for the financial security it offered him and his new wife.

Image: Doug Laker

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