![devon war memorial beach devon war memorial beach](https://cache.legacy.net/legacy/images/cobrands/timesnews/photos/3467bc2a0e956d225575a24a2a27f5dd7e0c62ee_20240222.jpg)
In 1984 I was a 15 yr old on a week long Geography Field Trip in Devon, from a school in inner city London. Ken’s story is still moving and I think of the many times we spent with him and his tank, dressed in black, no shoes on and with the beautiful pendant he wore – made up from treasure found in the sands. ~Their names live for ever in a corner of EnglandĪnd to hell with the generals, his men have come home. Though he still hears them crying, still sees their eyes dying (lambs to the slaughter as they died all alone.) Now his tank from the sad depths stands silent and proudįor friends and relations to honour their dead. Their story was buried with them on the hillsideīut he brought them back with a glory refound. To honour their memory his duty is bound. Man of the new day sees now his task’s way. (lambs to the slaughter they all go alone.)Sees theīut God’s on their side even though it’s gone wrong. Some slip into forever without murmuring. The water looks safer but it freezes the men – Some moan for sweethears, cry for God or for mother. There’s fire all around and hell in the air. The man in his minds eye hears now the great cry. They needle and shatter the convoy to piecesĪnd there’s no guard for heroes on this long April night. The E-boats ae running with daring and cunning Ĭonfusion is reigning in the flares’ telling light. Sees the generals watching the mayhem before themīut God’s on their side event though it’s gone wrong. (lambs to the slaughter they all go alone.) He hears them crying and sees their eyes dying He’d do it all over ‘neath Devon’s blue sky. So much he has done for them, should his time come again Man of the past fear drops now a lone tearįor years that are leaving him stranded and dry. He patiently waits for a key to his door.
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To light up the sea shore, spangle the sand bar. Man of the moonlight, man of the dark night Ken dressed in black and he was quite obsessive about the Moonlight Sonata which gave me the start of the lyrics:. Nothing came of it but we stayed with Ken many a time – soaking up his story especially the tank memorial. We visited Ken back in the late 80’s with a view to shooting a video. A few years later I visited Torcross but Ken was not there.and very annoyingly the plaque next to the tank was removed and replaced with different wording ! when I enquired at the local shop,i was told he had passed away….I miss that saint in Black who always dressed in black and wore a soldiers artifact around his neck…am glad his son now carries the torch….there are many lessons to be learned, in particular how politicians can twist truths….and historical facts never completely revealed….only tonight there was a TV programme on channel-5 about the event with no mention whatsover of Ken and with incomplete revelation….The saint in Black should have full credit for making history available to the man in the street….God bless his soul… He sat daily in his car next to the tank,smoking and being warmly receptive to any visitor.The car boot was open and in it was a framed letter from Ronald Regan stating affectionate acknowlegment and thanks to Kens dedicated work….the man was a dedicated saint with an estblaished accomplished mission of massive human dynamics.I reommend his historical and revealing book very srongly. I met the ” Saint in Black ” and he kindly signed a copy of his book for me on 21 June 2001. I’m pleased to hear Kens son has stepped into his fathers shoes and I’m sure the story has yet to be told many more times It was clear he felt this was what his life was destined to be about – the uncovering of this story – we were amazed as was Ken at the never ending stream of visitors to the Tank – flowers, garlands and teddies covered it left by maybe visiting relatives – where Ken spent all day every day and never tired of telling the story. we happened to be there in early June just as a huge statue of an eagle arrived from USA – so many families there grateful to Ken – at that time Ken lived there alone and we were the only guests – the place being for sale at the time and became fascinated with the story and the character that was Ken. My story started some years ago when I bought my husband Kens book – The Forgotten Dead-which led to holidays of discovery of The South Hams – a place of peace and beauty- we stayed at the Cove – which had to have the just about the most idyllic setting ever – the walls covered with photos and letters. It is some years since I was around that area and I have been saddened to read that Ken is no longer on duty at the tank. I was browsing the web to look up any goings on at Slapton for the forthcoming 65th D Day events.