Sussex war heroes share their amazing stories in new book

The amazing war stories of a fearless infantry officer and a Bomber Command pilot have been revealed in a new book.
SUS-160402-101830001SUS-160402-101830001
SUS-160402-101830001

Bill Lucas, from Cowfold, and John Buckeridge, from Cuckfield, are two of the nine veterans featured in new release, Sussex War Heroes.

Prior to the war, Bill, who is Britain’s oldest living Olympian, had set his sights on a medal in the 5,000m at the 1940 Helsinki Games.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But when war was declared the games were cancelled and he joined up.

Bill LucasBill Lucas
Bill Lucas

The 99-year-old said: “Hitler denied me the chance of that gold medal, so I decided to bomb him instead.”

By August 1941, he was flying over the English Channel on his first of many bombing runs to Germany.

Bomber Command had one of the lowest survival rates of any unit. But time after time he guided his crew safely through the searchlights and flak and back home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “It was very frightening, but you had to keep going. It was luck really whether you got through.”

SUS-160402-101701001SUS-160402-101701001
SUS-160402-101701001

He went on almost longer than any other pilot, taking part in the first 1,000 bomber raid on Cologne and the controversial bombing of Dresden.

Bill finished the war with 81 missions under his belt and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

He then turned his attention back to athletics and the 1948 London Olympics. He was hopeful of a medal but was past his prime and was beaten by one of the greats, Czechoslovakia’s Emil Zátopek.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The war had denied him of his chance at a medal but he refused to be bitter. He said: “The war just crept up on us all and things had to be put to one side. But I can’t complain, I made it through, unlike so many others.”

Dame Vera Lynn in Burma in 1944 during WWII SUS-141216-142403001Dame Vera Lynn in Burma in 1944 during WWII SUS-141216-142403001
Dame Vera Lynn in Burma in 1944 during WWII SUS-141216-142403001

John Buckeridge had signed up after enduring the Blitz and trained with the Royal Sussex Regiment. He excelled and within months was on his way to Italy to help take the German stronghold at the mountain-top Monte Cassino Abbey.

The battle for the holy site, which was spread across five months, resulted in more than 70,000 casualties.

John was involved in some of the most fearsome fighting at a position known as Snakeshead Ridge. Over the course of two nights, he was ordered to lead his men in assaulting the German position, which was just a few dozen yards away.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

So fierce was the fighting that over the two nights, 12 of the 15 officers who lead the attack were lost. Of the 313 men who followed them, 162 died.

SUS-160402-105505001SUS-160402-105505001
SUS-160402-105505001

He said: “You are scared, but in the heat of the moment you just get on with it. You know you have a job to do and you just try and stay alive.”

Author Ben James: “The immense courage shown by both men is quite incredible. As they are now in the twilight years of their lives, we must ensure that their stories and memories live on.”

Among the other men and women in the book include Spitfire hero Maurice Macey, Auschwitz survivor Shindy Perez and Jack Lyon who was part of the Great Escape.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In a foreword by Dame Vera Lynn, the Forces’ Sweetheart described her days in London, India, Egypt and Burma where she sang for the men who were fighting so far from home.

She said: “As I was leaving, a young soldier said to me, ‘Now you are here, home doesn’t seem so far away’. That meant a lot and I have never forgotten it.

“They were all so brave and just so grateful that I had come out to see them. They would ask about home and how we were getting on and what we were eating and simple things like that. But the sad reality was that many of them would never see home, their loved ones and families again.”

Bill LucasBill Lucas
Bill Lucas

Dame Vera added: “I was a young woman at the time, but it is a period of my life I will never forget. I often think back to my experiences in Burma as it has a special place in my heart.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I have always tried to help out where I can in the years since and I was awarded the Burma Star medal in 1985. I attended and performed at the Burma reunion for fifty years at the Albert Hall and they were fantastic events to be part of. The audience would be full of veterans and together we would remember the brave boys who didn’t make it home. “But as each year passed, I noticed a change. With each concert there would be fewer and fewer veterans and more family members taking their place.

“With most of the veterans of the Second World War now well into their nineties, it will not be long until they are all gone. That is why books such as this are more important than ever. We must record their stories before they are lost. We must remember them.”

Sussex War Heroes is available in all good bookshops, online (amazon.co.uk) and by calling 01235 465500.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.midsussextimes.co.uk

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/midsussextimes

3) Follow us on Twitter @midsussex_times

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Mid Sussex Times - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics: