The Second World War is vanishing into the pages of history. The
veterans were once all around us, but their numbers are fast diminishing. While
still in their prime many recorded their memories with Peter Hart for the
Imperial
War Museum. As these old soldiers now fade
away their voices from the front are still strong with a rare power to bring the
horrors of war back to vivid life.
The 2nd Norfolk Regiment were a proud
old regular battalion honed in the pre-war traditions of spit and polish at
their Britannia Barracks in Norwich. Sent to France they sold their lives to gain time for the
retreat to Dunkirk when surrounded by an SS Division at Le
Paradis in May 1940. Over 100 of the survivors would be brutally massacred. Back
in England they reformed from ordinary
drafts of men called up from all over the country. A new battalion was born.
Sent to India they met the Japanese head on
in the bloody fight for Kohima against the Imperial Japanese Army. As the
fighting raged in the jungle the Norfolks were once again right at the very
sharp end of modern war. This is their story.
