Sussex war heroes are honoured in new book

Bill Lucas, who is Britain’s oldest living Olympian, is one of nine men and women to feature in the new release, Sussex War Heroes.

Prior to the war he was one of the most talented athletes in the country and had set his sights on a medal in the 5,000m at the 1940 Helsinki Games.

But when war was declared the games were cancelled and Bill joined up.

The 99-year-old said: “Hitler denied me the chance of that gold medal, so I decided to bomb him instead.”

He trained as a pilot and soon caught the eye of his instructors. By August 1941, he was flying over the English Channel on his first of many bombing runs to Germany.

Bomber Command had one of the lowest survival rates of any unit. This was all too apparent to Bill and his crew who would came down to breakfast to find whole rows of men missing.

Bill, who lives in Cowfold, said: “It was very frightening, but you had to keep going. It was luck really whether you got through.”

Bill kept his nerve and time and time again guided his crew safely through the searchlights and flak to make it home.

He went on almost longer than any other Bomber Command pilot, taking part in the first 1,000 bomber raid on Cologne and the controversial bombing of Dresden, which resulted in huge numbers of civilian casualties.

He finished the war with an incredible 81 missions under his belt and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery.

After the war he turned his attention back to athletics and the 1948 London Olympics.

Despite being held at Wembley, it was unlike any modern sporting event with Bill having to get a bus, train and then the tube before entering with the spectators on the day of his race.

He was hopeful of a medal but he was past his prime and was beaten into eighth in the heats by one of the greats, Czechoslovakia’s Emil Zátopek.

The war had denied Bill of his chance at a medal, but he refused to be bitter.

He said: “The war just crept up on us all and things had to be put to one side. But I can’t complain, I made it through, unlike so many others.”

Author Ben James said: “Bill’s story is remarkable but surprising not widely known. He is an incredible modest man, as most are from that generation. His story and his bravery deserve to be known and celebrated.”

Among the other men and women in the book include Spitfire hero Maurice Macey, Auschwitz survivor Shindy Perez and Jack Lyon who was part of the Great Escape.

In a foreword by Dame Vera Lynn, the Forces’ Sweetheart described her days in London, India, Egypt and Burma where she sang for the men who were fighting so far from home.

She said: “As I was leaving, a young soldier said to me, ‘Now you are here, home doesn’t seem so far away’. That meant a lot and I have never forgotten it.

“They were all so brave and just so grateful that I had come out to see them. They would ask about home and how we were getting on and what we were eating and simple things like that. But the sad reality was that many of them would never see home, their loved ones and families again.”

Dame Vera added: “I was a young woman at the time, but it is a period of my life I will never forget. I often think back to my experiences in Burma as it has a special place in my heart.

“I have always tried to help out where I can in the years since and I was awarded the Burma Star medal in 1985. I attended and performed at the Burma reunion for fifty years at the Albert Hall and they were fantastic events to be part of. The audience would be full of veterans and together we would remember the brave boys who didn’t make it home. “But as each year passed, I noticed a change. With each concert there would be fewer and fewer veterans and more family members taking their place.

“With most of the veterans of the Second World War now well into their nineties, it will not be long until they are all gone. That is why books such as this are more important than ever. We must record their stories before they are lost. We must remember them.”

Sussex War Heroes is available in all good bookshops, online (amazon.co.uk) and by calling 01235 465500.

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