What Fred and I have shared in experiences, we will never loose Deep respect, gratefulness and admiration is now the backbone of these ever lasting memories. Fred, rest in peace knowing that you now belong to the elite that changed the world for the better. Please, keep smiling from up there Your dear Dutch friend Marcus

My Cousin Fred A Great Man, a War Hero and a True Friend I first came to know Fred in St.Albans in the nineteen fifties as a young school boy and was soon fascinated by his war stories and his “liberated” german rifles. He managed to “liberate” two Mauser rifles but was faced with a problem to get them home. He stripped off all the woodwork and sewed the barrels and actions on the inside of his greatcoat and, on his return, marched innocently off the ship with his booty. He was a skilled gunsmith, and made new stocks for both rifles, converting them from military weapons to sporting rifles. I was particularly impressed with the superb chequering that he cut into the handgrips of the stocks. Fred and Marion then moved to Canada and I did not see them again until 1963. In that year, at the age of 20, I bought a $99 Greyhound Bus ticket for 99 days and spent that summer in the USA and Canada. On that trip I stayed with them for a few days during which they showed me around the area and on a couple of days Fred took me out shooting with the “liberated” Mauser rifles and thinning out the local groundhog population. Fred was a true War Hero, he carried a Bren Gun (a very accurate.303 light machine gun) . Fred was the Gunner and he had team mate who carried the ammunition and the spare barrel for when the gun overheated. He carried the Bren Gun from the Normandy beaches to Berlin. They were in continual action and on one occasion he took out a complete German patrol with one magazine before they had time to shoot him. When they got into Holland they were held up at a bridge leading to a town called Borne. His commanding offer, very bravely!, sent Fred across the bridge on his own to check on German positions before all the others troops crossed. Fortunately for Fred, the Germans had just left and Fred was feted by the locals as the first Allied soldier to liberate their town. I ask delighted to hear they they are building a new bridge at Borne and are planning to name it after Fred, what a great honour. When they got to Germany, they crossed the Rhine on landing craft under fire and fought their way through to Berlin. What Fred always wanted to “liberate” was a Luger pistol. Fred told me that, when they got to Berlin, they got into a military office block. They found an officer’s desk with the two side drawers locked. He and his mate took a side each and broke open the drawers. to Fred’s chagrin, his mate got the Luger and he got a Nazi dagger which he very kindly gave to me in later years and has pride of place in my own collection. A few years ago Fred was Honorary Captain on the Canadian Rifle Team at Bisley. My brother Jo and I joined him there and they brought him over to my home in Guernsey. Fred really enjoyed that as our Island and our house were occupied by the Germans in the war. The Island is full of German war relics and we have a 19 room headquarters bunker in our garden of two floor with 33 beds. Fred just loved my gun collection which includes the Luger model that he always wanted, and a Bren Gun from 1943 which made him very sentimental. What a wonderful man. Good-bye Old Friend, you will not be forgotten Ric Wharton (cousin) Guernsey, UK

Dear Angie, Thank you for your mail, good to read how loved your father was. We would like to hear when the family celebration takes place. I'm going to see how we can keep your father's name alive. Sincerely, Jan Matel Chairman Experience Theater

My dear Angie, So so sad for you and your Mum…it’s a traumatic time for you. You had such a very special Dad in Fred. You could not have had a better Father…so many wonderful memories such deep caring. He is at peace now, bless him. No more pain or discomforts….you looked after him so well, Angie…he was lucky to have a really wonderful daughter. You were always the apple of his eye… and the centre of his and Marion’s world. I loved his Mum, Ethel and knew Fred and his brother from a very young age. Grandma Mary was great friends with Ethel. Fred was responsible for my lasting love of horses. He told me many stories and taught me all about saddlery etc. Fred had a saddle that he could take apart and put back together….I was fascinated and loved nothing better than listening to him and his wisdom. I know his death was expected but it is still such a shock, you must be reeling, my dear as your Mum will be. I will certainly ring her - it might be a good idea if we could arrange a time when you are there to help her. If that’s OK with you. They both used to phone us every Christmas which was lovely. Angie, my dear, stay strong. Dear Fred Rest in Peace. Our love and thoughts are with you both. Aline and Paul xxxx

My dear Angie, So so sad for you and your Mum…it’s a traumatic time for you. You had such a very special Dad in Fred. You could not have had a better Father…so many wonderful memories such deep caring. He is at peace now, bless him. No more pain or discomforts….you looked after him so well, Angie…he was lucky to have a really wonderful daughter. You were always the apple of his eye… and the centre of his and Marion’s world. I loved his Mum, Ethel and knew Fred and his brother from a very young age. Grandma Mary was great friends with Ethel. Fred was responsible for my lasting love of horses. He told me many stories and taught me all about saddlery etc. Fred had a saddle that he could take apart and put back together….I was fascinated and loved nothing better than listening to him and his wisdom. I know his death was expected but it is still such a shock, you must be reeling, my dear as your Mum will be. I will certainly ring her - it might be a good idea if we could arrange a time when you are there to help her. If that’s OK with you. They both used to phone us every Christmas which was lovely. Angie, my dear, stay strong. Dear Fred Rest in Peace. Our love and thoughts are with you both. Aline and Paul xxxx