Reg Rymer, Private, 2nd Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment ©
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Read this introduction to Reg Rymer's story, then listen to him describe his experiences, using the links at the foot of this page.

Reg Rymer was born in the Isle of Man and on leaving school decided to go to Liverpool for work. On the boat on the way over he saw a friend in army uniform, telling tales of his adventures in the services, so Reg Rymer walked straight off the ship and into the army recruiting office. The year was 1937 and he was still only 16. He had come to England to help his widowed mother, who was struggling financially. In those days, if you needed welfare help, you had to justify yourself to a local committee and people found it extremely humiliating.

By 1939 he was fully trained and his regiment was sent in France on 10 September. The soldiers made their way to the Belgian border, and were billeted in barns through the atrocious winter of 1939-40. After the 'phoney war' and the start of hostilities, the order then came to retreat. Things quickly became chaotic.

No one knew where they were going or what they were doing, and the men took orders haphazardly - 'going back, taking up positions, firing, doing what we had to do, and in the meantime getting hammered'. Eventually they struggled to Dunkirk, and home.

	Witnessing the bombing of refugees Play audio Read transcript

	Scene at the beach and reaching the boats Play audio Read transcript
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