ARmy Rumour SErvice

**boris7** · 17-05-2007, 11:34

I was chatting to an elderly veteran.......told me of a story of ex WW2 German servicemen enlisting in to British Army......further on in conversation....mentioned a German soldier enlisted into the Sherwood Foresters....and was allowed to wear his Iron Cross......does any members of arrse....know of any similar stories (fact)

**EX_STAB** · 17-05-2007, 11:42

Sure he wasn't winding you up? Or relating an urban myth from the 1950s?

**Barclays_Banker** · 17-05-2007, 11:45

I heard of a serving fella who was allowed to wear the medals of his father (on the right hand side of his uniform to complement his own being worn on the correct side) at a rememberance sunday parade ... and turned up with an Iron Cross.

**boris7** · 17-05-2007, 11:57

Being retired and to "mark" time, I make "audio books" and focus on WW2 story's.....Perhaps..."me thinks"...should contact the Sherwoods for further clarification!............

**cpunk** · 17-05-2007, 11:59

There is an ex-member of the Waffen-SS Totenkopf Division called Werner Volkner who married an Englishwoman and subsequently served in 2 RTR. He had the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class, as well as the General Assault and wound badges which he was given permission to wear on ceremonial occasions. He wrote an interesting book about his life which came out a couple of years ago called 'Many Rivers I Crossed'. Both of his sons served in the British Forces: one in the RAF, one in the Army.

**pupgreen** · 17-05-2007, 12:11

2rtr...havent heard that one before...
i never met him...or heard of him,,,,you sure it was 2rtr...

**boris7** · 17-05-2007, 12:12

Originally Posted by cpunk

There is an ex-member of the Waffen-SS Totenkopf Division called Werner Volkner who married an Englishwoman and subsequently served in 2 RTR. He had the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class, as well as the General Assault and wound badges which he was given permission to wear on ceremonial occasions. He wrote an interesting book about his life which came out a couple of years ago called 'Many Rivers I Crossed'. Both of his sons served in the British Forces: one in the RAF, one in the Army.

Thanks for the info...........will do some more research....

**EX_STAB** · 17-05-2007, 12:15

Originally Posted by cpunk

There is an ex-member of the Waffen-SS Totenkopf Division called Werner Volkner who married an Englishwoman and subsequently served in 2 RTR. He had the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class, as well as the General Assault and wound badges which he was given permission to wear on ceremonial occasions. He wrote an interesting book about his life which came out a couple of years ago called 'Many Rivers I Crossed'. Both of his sons served in the British Forces: one in the RAF, one in the Army.

On one occasion he was summoned to the presence of the regiment's honorary colonel, Gen Sir Harold Pyman, who asked him if he would like to wear his decorations won during the war, including his Iron Cross, on parade.

"I said the other lads might not like it, but he said nonsense, that I was entitled and I should make a formal submission and he would OK it," says Mr Volkner. "But it must have ended up in a bin because he died before he could sign it. So I never did get to wear my medals."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...105.xml&page=6
Sounds like Gen Sir Harold was having a laugh!

Can't be many people who have the Chief Scout's Commendation for Good Service AND an Iron Cross though!
http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/hq/award...ds-2006-02.htm

**pupgreen** · 17-05-2007, 12:25

westminster dragoons TAVR:--- are not "2RTR:
they shared rhq rtr in elverton street in London with the westminsters...
that is all. thought it sounded far fetched...