The Forgotten Battles

The bloody Italian campaign is often overlooked in World War II histories – but Shoreham centenarian William Earl experienced its horror as part of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Duncan Hall discovers why he is telling his story 70 years on

SHOREHAM’S William Earl didn’t start talking about his wartime experiences until he reached his 90s. So it is lucky Liz Coward was visiting her in-laws one Remembrance Sunday eight years ago when he dropped in on his Shoreham beach neighbours. “When William started talking about his role in the Field Ambulance and the fighting in the Italian campaign I realised I had heard very little about it,” says Liz who asked her mother-in-law to contact William about writing some magazine articles.

“I realised that I was getting older, and when I died my stories would be lost,” says William, now 102, in the home he has lived in since 1956.

Seven years on the result was Blood and Bandages – which mixes William’s words with Liz’s research and covers the six years William spent with the 214th field ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps. The book takes in William’s training, the campaigns in North Africa and Italy, and meeting wife Mary, who he first began courting while on holiday in Hastings in 1939.

Freelance writer Liz, 52, had never tackled a book before, having previously achieved an MA in screenwriting. While conducting interviews with William she filmed several encounters for a future potential documentary project. “The more we talked the more came out,” she says. “I never lost faith in the story – although I did lose my faith in my ability to do justice to his story.” In her research around William’s account, she found his recall was impressive. “It is a challenge in itself to write a military history,” she says. “There are so many experts and brilliant authors out there. If you get something wrong you can be slated.” She was careful not to dilute William’s story though – ensuring every detail related back to William’s experiences. William’s words are used verbatim as much as possible.