Home | Veterans | Wally Fuller
Wally-Fuller

A veteran interview with

Wally Fuller

On D-Day, Wally Fuller was a Gunner with the 4th Royal Tank Regiment. On the 8th June, 1944 he landed on Gold Beach.

Video Coming Soon

Bringing military history to life

Help us tell this veteran's story!

About Wally Fuller

Wally Fuller joined 14 RAC in 1942 as a gunner mechanic on Crusader anti-aircraft tanks, equipped with twin Oerlikon 20mm guns. The first warning of D-Day came when they moved from Scotland to Aldershot and started waterproofing their tanks. They were delayed by a storm before crossing to Normandy on 8th June, and then saw action mostly at night as they put up a barrage to deter German aircraft. Prior to the Rhine crossing they were redesignated 4RTR and converted onto Buffalo amphibious troop carriers, which they operated through to the Elbe crossing.

Wally detested Shermans because of their thin armour and tendency to catch fire; during the crossing he had no time to feel nervous, and was surprised how quiet it was when they landed. He stresses the care with which they handled the ammunition to keep the guns supplied, and how the crew was a tight-knit team who worked well together and were trained to do each other’s jobs. His abiding memory is a mixture of excitement and fear, though they just got on with the job.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Andy Voase

Copyright:
All video content, web site design, graphics, images (including submitted content), text, the selection and arrangement thereof, underlying source code, software and all other material on this Web site are the copyright of Legasee Educational Trust, and its affiliates, or their content and technology providers. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Any use of materials on this Web site – including reproduction for purposes other than those noted above, modification, distribution, or republication – without the prior written permission of Legasee Educational Trust is strictly prohibited.

Home | Veterans | Wally Fuller

A veteran interview with

Wally Fuller

Wally-Fuller

On D-Day, Wally Fuller was a Gunner with the 4th Royal Tank Regiment. On the 8th June, 1944 he landed on Gold Beach.

Related topics & talking points

Keep on watching

More veteran stories...

Share this interview on:

https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/wally-fuller/

Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Fuller, Wally. A Veteran Interview with Wally Fuller. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/wally-fuller/. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
APA Style:
Fuller, W. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Wally Fuller [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/wally-fuller/
Chicago Style:
Fuller, Wally. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with Wally Fuller. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee. Accessed April 25, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/wally-fuller/
Harvard Style:
Fuller, W. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Wally Fuller. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/wally-fuller/ (Accessed: 25 April 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Fuller, W. A Veteran Interview with Wally Fuller [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2025 Apr 25]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/wally-fuller/
An interview with

Cheryl Woon

Cheryl Woon worked as a Stewardess in the WRAC.

Cheryl was twenty-four when she joined the WRAC and saw the army as a career opportunity. At Guildford she dedicated herself to training and felt a sense of achievement wearing her solider's uniform. Cheryl completed her trade training at Aldershot, and specialised in silver service techniques. She was then posted to the Royal Armament and Development Establishment where she worked in both the sergeant's mess and on guard duty. At the RARDE soldiers would test new vehicles and weapons under extremely classified conditions, therefore those working there, such as Cheryl, had to stand on high alert at all times. Cheryl remembers having basic weapon training during this period, yet she still was not given ammunition whilst on guard. In her interview she describes the horrific treatment of women in the army, one of the reasons for her leaving in 1989. Cheryl felt unsupported on her leave and disappointed by the army's attitude towards the female corps. She feels that although the WRAC is a huge part of her history, there were real issues of gender discrimination which should be documented in oral histories such as those held in Legasee's archive.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

John Clarke

John recalls experiences as an infantryman in the Black Watch and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Born in Manchester and raised in foster care, John Clarke became an apprentice at sixteen before joining The Black Watch, following in his grandfather’s footsteps. After training in Scotland as part of the 6th Battalion, he was deployed to Tunisia, where he fought at Sidi Medienne and helped rescue wounded prisoners from an enemy ship—a highlight of his service. He later trained in Cairo, before being stationed high up the Aurunci Mountains in Italy with the British division in the American 5th Army. John joined the 12th Brigade in Cassino and remembers the chaos around Monte Cassino monastery, the heavy casualties, and the many acts of bravery. Post-war, he joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, managing the armoury in Gaza. John reflects on his military career, recalling memorable moments including meeting Winston Churchill. For John, the friends he made during the war became the family he never had growing up.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Wendy Hooton

Wendy describes her experience as a Communications Centre Operator in the WRAC.

At only seventeen years old Wendy Joined the WRAC in 1972. Driven by her desire to travel, she joined the army as a communications operator and her interview provides a fascinating insight into the processes, and complications, of being a young woman in a military environment. Wendy recalls the strict routines at Guildford and the excitement of her passing out parade following the first six weeks of training. In her specialised training, Wendy discusses the complexity of the communications machinery and the development of technologies throughout her time as an operator. Beginning with T-100s, Wendy describes the transition into T-15 Telex machines in the late 1970s. Reflecting on the WRAC Wendy speaks fondly of her travels to Rheindahlen, Hong Kong, Australia, Cyprus and later Edinburgh. During this time she faced constant IRA threats, Cold War tensions and feelings of discontent that erupted with the onset of the Falklands. She speaks passionately on the importance of the WRAC as an emerging space for women to push beyond their societal expectations during a period of great change.  
Photo Gallery icon 15 Photos
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker