One of last-known survivors of the World War Two Desert Rats dies age 99
ONE of the last-known survivors of the legendary Desert Rats has died aged 99.
Francis Brindle was part of the 7th Armoured Division, who defeated Rommel’s Afrika Korps in a major turning point in World War Two.
The sergeant served under Field Marshal Montgomery at the battles of El Alamein in 1942.
His brother Jack, in the same Regiment, was killed in action, aged 27.
The Nazis dubbed our soldiers “rats” in 1941 when they withstood an eight-month siege in Tobruk – and our brave boys embraced the name as their own.
Brindle, whose wife Vera died in 2005, went on to fight in Italy where his unit played a key part in the battle of Monte Cassino.
The grandad, from Accrington, Lancs, was awarded the Africa Star, Italy Star, the 1939-1945 Star, the 8th Army Medal, the Defence Medal and the Territorial Efficiency Medal.
His daughter Sue Brindle, 64, said: “He was always very humble and a great family man.”
The Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast clubs will form a Guard of Honour and a bugler will also play the Last Post at his funeral on Monday
The Desert Rats Association are only a handful of survivors left.
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