With Allied troops closing in Eric convinces the German Officer his position is hopeless.
Having surrendered to Eric, the German prisoners are escorted to HQ by three bren carriers of the 1st Worcester...I helped him to realise that British & Allied troops were pouring into Normandy and that his situation,
already dire, was only going to get worse. He was taking serious casualties and could see his position was steadily weakening. In these strained circumstances I managed to steer talk to his option of surrender. Then of course there was the practicality of who would take the surrender. I heard myself saying: ‘Don’t worry about that; surrender to me.
When I think back, it’s such a surreal scene. I had my right arm in a sling so couldn’t salute. I had no experience of taking a surrender... at the ripe old age
of twenty-three!
So, the Colonel came to attention, saluted me and I returned his salute with my left arm. Then he presented me with his handgun, a 9mm Luger, and made a short formal announcement of surrendering his command to me.
Then the Colonel started talking terms. This wasn’t so much a negotiation; more like haggling. He suggested we could take 6 of his men forward under a white flag and try to find an authority to discuss terms of surrender. I really couldn’t see this as a sensible way to proceed and eventually managed to persuade him the only course of action was a complete surrender. The Colonel eventually agreed as his position was quite hopeless, I told him to get the weapons piled up in the ground.
We set out at first light with me at the front, the Colonel and his Adjutant alongside, followed by 35 other ranks. In proper military order we marched along the narrow road, heading North towards the coast. Quite soon I heard tracked vehicles and we came upon a forward carrier patrol of the 1st Worcester Regiment.
The patrol consisted of three bren carriers and I put one at the front and one bringing up the rear of our small column. I traveled in the third vehicle along with my two captive officers. Before long we reached a main HQ assembly area where I was able to leave my group and report to the MO in a tented area. Once there, and in good hands, I promptly passed out.
I later awakened in the British Military Hospital which was well established in a group of large tents pitched not far from the landing grounds. Treatment there was first class; with all those pretty nurses around our spirits were uplifted. I was operated on and the bullet was removed. I still have it to this day – as a memento. That brought to an end my own modest contribution to the Normandy Campaign!" ...
