At 99 years Tony Rampling may be the last of the 61st Reconnaissance Regiment.
Tony was in B Squadron's No 5 Troop with Dick Williams, the subject of this blog, as his Troop Leader.
He landed shortly after D Day, fought in the Battle of Normandy, led the advance across France after Falaise, fought again in Belgium and then with the Guards crossing into the Netherlands to meet the Airborne Troops in Operation Market Garden. 61st Recce held the frontline between Nijmegen and Arnhem in the autumn of 1944 and were then due for disbandment because of their decimated numbers. Von Rundstedt's surprise invasion of the Ardennes sent them back into action alongside the Americans and Belgian SAS in the freezing conditions of a mountain winter. After driving back the German forces they were disbanded and sent to other regiments. Tony joined the 44th Royal Tank Regiment in 4th Armoured Division, entering Germany and crossing the Rhine in a DUKW to reach Bremen, Hamburg and Lübeck before VE Day.
Tony's war medals include the Légion d'Honneur (left) awarded to him in 2015 as a liberator of France:
Chotie's daughter with Tony Rampling in 2023:
Thank you for sharing your story Tony
and everything you did to defend our freedom.
Recent Comments