Samuel's bravery on the beaches
BOMBADIER Samuel Edmunds was in the initial assault on the Normandy beach at La Riviere only 45 minutes after the first troops went ashore on D-Day.

The Nash Mills schoolboy, who had worked on Saturdays as a lather boy in a barber's shop before leaving school, joined the Herts Yeomanry shortly before his 20th birthday in 1939.
Bachelor Sam, who had grown up in Belswains Lane before later moving to Chambersbury Lane, died in September 2002 aged 83 years.
His nephew, Derek Sayell, of Hazlewood Lane in Abbots Langley, has a collection of the old soldier's memorabilia and recalls his uncle was reluctant to talk much about his wartime experiences.
“He went all the way to Arnhem with the TA branch of the Royal Artillery that was the Hertfordshire Yeomanry. But he rarely spoke about it and I actually found out more after going through his things following his death,” said Derek.
He has discovered his uncle approached the Normandy beaches on one of six landing craft at 06.45 as part of 462 battery.
A letter of thanks for Sam's contribution from the battery Major E. G. Scammell is one of Derek's prized possessions.
“It must have been terrifying in those heavy seas followed by the bitter resistance they encountered. I can hardly imagine how it would have been to be part of the preliminary bombardment of the beach defences that day,” said Derek.
“The Herts Yeomanry went on to join the 11th Armoured Division and supported them in their historic advance to Antwerp. They were unable to push north and switched to the Guards Armoured Division and supported them in their vain but gallant attempt to reach the First Airborne Division at Arnhem,” he added.