Tom Renouf

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A veteran interview with

In the Second World War Tom Renouf served with the Black Watch.
As a front line infantry man who was involved in intense fighting in Normandy

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About Tom Renouf

Tom Renouf’s journey from infantry recruit to seasoned corporal with a Military Medal began with basic training and the preparations for deploying to France just after D-Day. On 30 June he joined his battalion as a casualty replacement, and went from boy to man during his baptism of fire at Rauray next day. Apart from a brief period recovering from a wound, he served continuously in the front line through France, Holland and the Rhine crossing to the final surrender in Germany.

He focuses on some of the more personal aspects: how first battle experiences turned replacements into veterans, heavy casualties epitomised by the small number of soldiers who mustered next day, the different ways each man coped with danger. He recalls, during his first action in command, how he had to lead his section from the front to earn their respect. A recurrent theme is how the corporals, sergeants and sergeant major led from the front in battle and ensured the men’s welfare throughout the campaign.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Andy Voase

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

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