Much-loved Dorset veteran Henry dies aged 87 (From Bournemouth Echo)

Much-loved Dorset veteran Henry dies aged 87

7:00am Wednesday 11th November 2009 in

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AN OLD soldier whose life may have been saved by his makeshift cigarette case has died at the age of 87.

Widower Henry Cluett from Blandford Road, Hamworthy was a front gunner and driver with the Coldstream Guards, witnessing many of the horrors and joys of the Allied re-conquest of Europe.

He arrived in Normandy with the 6th Guards Tank Brigade several weeks after D-Day and was involved in several of the long, hard battles of Normandy including the famous “breakout” battle at Falaise Gap Reminiscing in the Daily Echo he said: “One thing that stands out in my memory is the sight and smell of dead animals hit by shells.”

In the Reichwald Forest near Arnhem and Nijmegen Mr Cluett saw the crash-landed gliders which had delivered thousands of Allied troops to the battle zone.

He said: “I climbed up into one glider and found a bullet-proof vest full of bullet holes. I wore it for two or three days but began to feel ashamed of myself for having protection my colleagus didn’t have, so I took it off.”

Once Mr Cluett found three enemy soldiers hiding in a barn. As the prisoners were led back to the unit a shell landed in front of them sending a piece of shrapnel through his clothing, webbing and makeshift cigarette case.

He kept the case and cigarettes which probably saved his life as a wartime souvenir.

Mr Cluett, who had lived in Hamworthy since 1945 and took a keen interest in local history, worked for BDH Chemicals and local water companies before retiring.

The much-loved pensioner passed away peacefully at Poole hospital. His funeral will be held at Poole crematorium at 3pm tomorrow.