Published: Friday, 27th June, 2008 15:00
War hero Walter, 87, joins medal parade
By Rob Frische
Comments (0)
Print Article
A WAR veteran who has had a platoon named after him was honoured during the 100th anniversary celebration of the Territorial Army.
Walter Harris received the Military Medal from Field Marshall Montgomery following his actions during the liberation of Brussels in the Second World War.
The 87-year-old, who was a sergeant, was present at The Mall in London on Saturday, where for the first time 1,000 troops marched to mark 100 years of the Territorials (TA).
He said: “It was a fantastic occasion and I met the Prince of Wales. I think it’s very important to recognise the efforts of people who are willing to die for their country.”
The march was followed by a presentation in which Mr Harris, of Crown Wood, was one of three TA soldiers to receive an award for gallantry from Prince Charles.
Rolls Royce engineer Mr Harris was in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers so it was unusual for him to get involved in combat.
But after stumbling across the enemy outside Brussels in 1944, he drove his jeep into an exposed position and killed or wounded 12-15 enemy soldiers with a Browning machine gun, regardless of his own safety.
In recognition he had an Army Training Regiment in Surrey named after him as the 'Harris MM platoon’ in July 2002. Mr Harris has been married to Dolly, his teenage sweetheart, for 67 years.
94 Berkshire Yeomanry Signal Squadron will parade through Windsor on Saturday. Serving and retired TAs will march from Victoria Barracks, Sheet Street, at 12.25pm up to the Guildhall, on to River Street and Barry Avenue.
Further Details
