My uncle was a great marksman
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (342112)
Rockingham, Australia
December 17, 2020 2:04am CST
I learnt something about a deceased uncle yesterday. I knew he had gone to the Middle East in the army in World War II but I didn’t know he had seen active service. He had always been very handy with a rifle and was highly regarded in the local rifle club. Maybe it was he who taught my mother to shoot as she was very accurate too.
During the war, he became a sniper and gained renown for using an anti-tank rifle to shoot out the differential of an Italian tank. A newspaper report of the day states: We understand his feat of shooting the differential out of an Italian truck (presumably with an anti-tank rifle) caused quite a sensation, particularly among the occupants of the truck. As it would, I venture to add.
His daughter has verified that he used an anti-tank gun. The photo shows a group of soldiers in the desert somewhere in Egypt. My uncle is on the right.
34 people like this
29 responses
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
18 Dec 20
@JudyEv My mother told me that there were Polish soldiers with the Germans during the war. She lived in the countryside with her parents and sisters, the Germans occupied two of their rooms for them, they lived bad moments... they were hiding a Jewish family in the granary.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (182212)
• United States
17 Dec 20
Funny they are barefoot. I doubt US solidier would be allowed to be out of uniform like that, even in a hot place like Egypt.
3 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16789)
• China
17 Dec 20
That was no mean feat ! People definitely held him in awe.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (181717)
• United States
17 Dec 20
What great memories. I'm sure you're proud of your uncle.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342112)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Dec 20
@LindaOHio Does he ever talk about his experiences? Many vets don't like to.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181717)
• United States
18 Dec 20
@JudyEv My husband was a marksman in the military as well!
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
17 Dec 20
that is the coolest story - so awesome!
3 people like this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
18 Dec 20
@JudyEv sometimes we miss stories, thanks for coming back to this one!
1 person likes this
@popciclecold (39510)
• United States
17 Dec 20
@JudyEv I can't imagine you shooting anything, let alone a kangaroo. Wow.
1 person likes this
@ExplorewtMe (6332)
• Nairobi, Kenya
17 Dec 20
@JudyEv I am sure you will not want to shoot at a kangaroo. Are kangaroos aggressive?
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (90474)
• Arvada, Colorado
17 Dec 20
He was great Judy bless RIP. Thank you for sharing him with us. When men were men :)
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
17 Dec 20
Tough lives maketh a person for life.
It is tough to shed the vestiges of a lifestyle where one's life was in constant threat.
My father was an army doctor in WW II but did not want to go back to those days.
Good that your uncle passed on his skills to others.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342112)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Dec 20
@Shiva49 There is much talk now about the Australians being used as 'cannon fodder' and being sent to places where they weren't expected to be able to survive. They were considered as 'dispensable'. I don't know really if it's best people do or don't talk about their experiences. It's a hard one.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26776)
• Singapore
18 Dec 20
@JudyEv He saw people getting killed and they were just ordinary folks defending their countries.
I believe politicians create wars and ordinary folks suffer.
He once told me it was tough to make others understand their emotions during those times.
It is better they lie inside them dormant and not replayed thereby reopening the emotional wounds.
1 person likes this
