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Private Bernard Leslie Hammond
Unit : 225th Parachute Field Ambulance, RAMC
Bernard Hammond was born on the 24th July 1916, in Brighton, where he resided throughout his life. He joined the British Army in 1940, and as a conscientious objector served with a Royal Engineers bomb disposal unit before transferring to the Royal Army Medical Corps. He accompanied the 225th Parachute Field Ambulance to Normandy; the following is a wartime newspaper article about his experiences there, believed to be from the Brighton Evening Argus:
While on leave after service in France, Private Bernard Hammond, R.A.M.C., of 52, Queen's Park-rise, has been able to look back upon three months of unforgettable experiences.
A member of a parachute field ambulance unit, he "dropped" into France just before midnight on June 5, when the division in which he served landed upon the east bank of the River Orne with the object of capturing the bridges across the river and holding them intact.
He pays tribute to the brilliant organisation behind the venture, and referring to the appearance on the beaches the following morning (D-Day) of Commandos, who fought their way through to the parachutists, Hammond exclaimed: "And it was great to see them."
One of the many things which impressed him most was the fortitude of the wounded. "We set up a dressing station in a chateau, and performed a large number of operations on the spot," he said. "Far from complaining, the men seemed to be apologetic for the trouble they were giving."
His unit was always kept well supplied with food and medical requirements, thanks to the efficiency of the transport systems. For the first few days the medical staff worked practically without a break, and operating teams often carried on while under shell-fire.
The opposition met at these early stages he described as "very scattered and disorganised," but adds that there was a certain amount of machine-gun fire from the air.
One of the most vivid of Private Hammond's recollections is that of the welcome given to the men upon their entry into a coast town. They were the first British troops to enter, and the people really "let themselves go." Food in the town was far from plentiful, but the inhabitants brought out everything they had, including bottles of champagne. They invited the troops into their homes, and the men made many friends.
One French family visited several times by Private Hammond were proud of the fact that in four years of occupation no German had ever entered their home.
While in the town Private Hammond attended a Requiem Mass in memory of the local residents who had been killed. There was a march past of the local F.F.I., with short speeches at the Cenotaph, and the town band played the national anthems of the Allies.
An amusing incident in which a friend of Private Hammond figured is worthy of mention. Hammond's friend, a member of his unit, had the misfortune to be captured by a German patrol. Speaking fluent German, he remonstrated with the leader of the patrol, stating that he was protected by the Red Cross and should be allowed to go. Painting a gloomy picture of Germany's chances of winning the war, he argued to such good purpose that he returned to his camp with the German patrol, who, disheartened by his eloquence, had given themselves up!
Private Hammond is an Old Verndeanian, and before joining up four years ago on Tuesday was employed in the accounts office of the Brighton Hove and Worthing Gas Company. He began his Army life in the Royal Engineers, transferring to the R.A.M.C. just over a year ago.
Hammond continued to serve with the 225th Parachute Field Ambulance; in the Ardennes, the Rhine Crossing, and the Far East. On leaving the army, he returned to his job in the accounts department of the Brighton Hove and Worthing Gas Company, but later became a teacher and retired from the profession in 1981. He passed away on the 16th March 1996 after a long illness.