A HARVINGTON resident was among the war veterans who relived old memories in northern France earlier this month, writes Phil Sunderland.

Wally Allvey, aged 80, served as a Corporal with the Royal Army Service Corps during World War Two and visited Dunkirk for the first time since the evacuation to watch his comrades march in a procession down the Rue Clemenceau and to lay wreaths at the town's war memorial.

The 60th Anniversary of Operation Dynamo, on June 3 and 4, was the last official Dunkirk pilgrimage before the Dunkirk Veterans Association (DVA) disbands due to dwindling numbers.

Wally's story begins in Tottenham, North London, where he was born on January 4, 1920. Raised in East Ham, he joined the British Expeditionary Force before the outbreak of war. He then became a Corporal in the Royal Army Service Corps and was posted to France for seven months, beginning in October 1939.

By May 1940, German forces had pushed the Allies back to the coast of France. The Germans captured Calais and occupied Holland and, by the end of May, most of Belgium. The only way out was the beaches of Dunkirk.

Wally said he spent two days and two nights on the beach, before being directed to the mole, a narrow pier from where little ships were taking troops to the larger ships to be brought back to Dover, all of this under enemy attack.

"It was a terrific escape and a miracle that we got away. Thank God for the Navy, I was never so pleased to see a bunch of sailors in my life."

Most of the troops were taken to safety. Wally himself was taken off in a destroyer called HMS Montrose.

Once safely back to England, Wally's unit was sent by train from Dover to Aldershot, then sent to Chipping Campden and finally, South Littleton.

"The troops had nothing to do, so we were sent pea-picking. This was a shock to me, because I was always under the impression that peas came in cans. We used to sneak off into Evesham and go to the Clifton cinema." (Now the Angel Bingo and Leisure Hall).

It was here where Wally met his wife, Muriel, who was an usherette at the cinema. Muriel came from Harvington and the couple are now celebrating their diamond wedding.

He and Muriel married at a registry office in Port Street, Evesham, in 1940 while Wally was granted a week's leave from the army.

The couple celebrated their diamond wedding with a party at their house for family and friends. Instead of the guests giving presents, the Allveys held a collection for the MacMillan Nurses and raised £115.

Wally then went on to recount the two occasions on which he came closest to the enemy during the war.

"I was a motorcyclist in the Corps, delivering food, ammunition and fuel to the fighting units. One day I had just dropped off a delivery in the town of Hazebrouce and was on my way back to base.

"I heard the noise of a plane and could hear the guns banging. I thought he was shooting at me, so I drove the bike into a ditch to shelter from the aircraft. The other time I was in Aire-Sur-Lys with a convoy. As we approached a bridge over the river Lys, we were told there were enemy tanks on the other side.

"You've never seen quicker three-point-turns in your life, I can tell you," he said.

Wally said he was very glad he went to the last procession, and was very moved by three French children in particular.

"There were these three French children standing in front of us, they had obviously been told to do so by their parents, but they each stepped forward in turn and in perfect English, said 'Thank you'."

Despite enjoying the celebration, Wally said he wouldn't be returning to Dunkirk again.

"I am very grateful that my son took me there, it was also nice to tour around northern France visiting the villages where I was billeted."