"It was early in 1952 when a patrol was organised for information gathering on Hill 227...."

"Five people were selected, A Company, 2 Platoon Commander, Platoon Sergeant, Section CO, myself and radio operator C Bevan (who was later killed in action by a mine while returning from a patrol in another area).

"The Platoon Commander had the idea of taking with an air panel (a sheet of material normally pegged to the ground to use as a code to warn friendly aircraft not to attack) and a pole. On arriving on top of 227 and at a given time, the large searchlight that shone on the hill at night from behind our lines, was switched off.

"They looked around, examined the deep trenches and fighting pits but saw (thank goodness) no hostile troops. They were knee deep in dust, from the constant shelling, so they planted the flag and returned safely to the company. When the light was switched on it looked great to see the air panel fluttering in the night breeze. However Battalion Commander gave the Platoon Commander a severe ear bashing. It was two days before the CO cooled down and agreed that it had been a good morale booster to know the enemy had seen that they had trampled over the top of his hill and he did not know how many of them had been there."

CORPORAL FREDERICK WILLIAM (BILL) WILLIAMS