Coleshill veteran shares D Day Landings memories
Mr Allt had just turned 20 when he joined the Paras and was among the 600 men who went over to Normandy - but just 80 returned.
But so modest is he, he only told his wife of over 50 years, Beryl, about his D-Day adventures 20 years ago.
“I don’t like talking about it and part of me just wants to forget it because I lost so many friends and comrades,” he said.
Since he came clean about his proud military past, Mr Allt has been back to Merville four times with Beryl, aged 72, and their three children and five grandchildren.
During his time in the Parachute Regiment he did 17 jumps - some of which did not go according to plan. “In the drop at Merville I landed in a tree and was left hanging there for half an hour and couldn’t untangle myself,” he said.
“So I just went to sleep and waited for my comrades to come and get me.”
After he left the forces he worked as a motor mechanic and in a concrete factory.
He came to Birmingham to live with his step-sister in Great Barr and went onto meet Beryl at Birmingham Ice Rink. The couple married in 1956.
