William Spring (Bill) – Légion d’Honneur

81st Field Regiment 53rd Welsh Division

Rank of Lance Bombardier

Bill was the diver/mechanic of the lorry that towed the 6 pounder artillery guns.

When the guns were set up he would then work with the rest of the team by getting the shells for the gunners.

Bill was awarded the Legion d’Honneur by the French government for services rendered to France.

His unit landed on Gold Beach near Arromanches and made their way through France, Belgium, and Holland into Germany and were involved in many campaigns including Lille ( France), Nijmegen and Eindhoven (Holland). The  81st Regiment stayed in Germany until 1946 when it was put into suspended animation and was reconstituted as 281 (Welsh) Field Regiment in 1947.