Cyril Charles Austin of Hertford, on 2nd September 2012, aged 96. Cyril said he joined The Hertfordshire Regiment as a TA soldier in 1934 at the Port Hill Drill Hall because he was interested in shooting. He recalls that the recruiting officer, a local brewer, gave him half-a crown instead of the usual King’s Shilling because he knew him. He was a good shot and was also a keen member of the Regimental football team and won cups for both. By 1939 he was a corporal and on the day war was declared he remembers being told to report to the Drill Hall at 0900 hrs in the morning – ‘Very keen we were!’ Like many others he recalls thinking that it would be a short affair!

For the next three years the 1st Battalion was stationed in various places as part of home defence. As a former civil servant (he had been a postman) he remembers his Army pay was made up to his civilian pay level. By 1942, when the unit was mobilised for service overseas, he was in the Signals Platoon as a Sergeant and was already married to Dorothy, a local girl. He remembers going up to Greenock by train for embarkation by ship and arriving nine days later in Gibraltar – ‘We were mostly disappointed, because we thought we were going into the fighting lines. In Gibraltar we had some local duties – coal heaving, tunnelling and guard duties.’ They continued training, company by company in Oran, across in North Africa, during which time Cyril was promoted to CSM.

In July 1944 the Battalion was sent to Naples in Italy and then up to the front line near Florence. Cyril recalls their first operation started on the night of 21st August, when they had to wade across the River Arno to capture Fiesole. ‘We encountered heavy fire from the enemy because unfortunately, they were on the higher ground and we were often under fire and received quite a number of casualties that way.’ The approaches were also mined and the unit suffered more casualties from these mines. Eventually on September 1st, they took Fiesole. The next day the Battalion advanced towards Borgo San Lorenzo to clear the main axis of advance. Over the next two days the unit had close-quarter clashes with the enemy, a German Parachute Regiment. On the Morning of September 3rd, No 1 Company, of which Cyril was CSM, was ordered to occupy a feature of considerable tactical importance, from which the enemy had been driven. ‘It was quite misty in the morning, but unfortunately we were spotted and came under heavy fire from the enemy’s 88mm shellfire and mortar fire. They quickly suffered heavy casualties, including the OC and the CSM. At the time Cyril was briefing Captain Mathews, a replacement officer sent from reserve, on the positions of the platoons, when they were hit by a shell. Captain Mathews was killed and Cyril was severely wounded in the leg, losing part of his calf muscle and getting shrapnel in his back. He remembers that he bound up his leg with his shell dressing and a towel and then took some painkillers before passing out. He was evacuated by stretcher and jeep through Florence and then by air to Naples. After a number of operations he was sent back to England by Hospital Ship. After several months in hospital, during which he had numerous operations, he eventually arrived back in Hertford in time for Christmas, by which time he was able to walk again. Although he did not go back to the Regiment, he was sent abroad again, first to Belgium and then to Hamburg, dealing with the repatriation of former prisoners of war to England.

When he was demobbed, he re-joined the Post Office, working in the sorting office on shift work. He eventually became the manager and remained there until he retired. He always had a great sense of responsibility and was awarded the Imperial Service Order for his dedicated service. Although his war wounds continued to cause him pain and mobility problems increasingly throughout his life, he never complained and would not let it affect his many and varied activities. He played cricket for Bengeo, his local team and at times opened the batting along with his son Ray. ‘A four or nothing’, used to be his motto! He also put a great deal of his spare time into the Royal British Legion, of which he was a highly respected and generous member. As a leading member of the Hertfordshire Regiment Association, he served for many years as Branch Secretary. He was a keen gardener and took pride in his beloved allotment, producing much admired vegetables. He was also a skilled carpenter and a talented artist. He was indeed a remarkable man of many parts. He was still driving until the beginning of 2012, having first started at the age of fourteen as a telegram boy on a motorbike! Eighty two years of driving on the roads must be something of a record!

Cyril and Dorothy celebrated their Diamond Wedding in 2000. Dorothy was a devoted wife and mother and although her death in 2008 was a great blow, Cyril continued to live independently until the end of his life. Cyril’s funeral took place on 24th September 2012, in St Andrews Church, Hertford, where he and Dorothy were regular members of the congregation. The Branch Standards of the Hertfordshire Regiment and the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment flanked the coffin during the funeral service conducted by The Reverend Alan Stewart, where thanks were given for Cyril’s long and productive life. He was always polite and helpful and won the respect of all those privileged to know him; he was a real gentleman.

Cyril is survived by his son Ray, grandchildren Melanie and Tim and great grandchildren, Ben, Tom and Rory; and our thoughts and prayers are with them.