Ralph’s experience working as a pork butcher in Mills before joining up, came in handy.
The last Christmas Ralph’s lot were fighting in Italy, they were near a farm. Apparently the farmer, who kept pigs said he hated the British.
279’s Commanding Officer said, ‘Right, we’ll have one of those b….s for Christmas dinner.’
He asked if anyone knew anything about killing and preparing pork, so Ralph said he was a pork butcher. The officer shot the pig, Ralph prepared it and a lovely meal was had by all! Eileen Smith nee Lansdowne b 1921