South Staffordshire Regiment

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Aubrey Hill, Jan 23, 2018.

  1. Aubrey Hill

    Aubrey Hill Member

    my Grand Father served on both of the wars and was shot I believe 3 times so I'm told. I was also told a story that he was shot in the chest and he was saved because the bullet lodged in his breast pocket stopped by a match book cover. The matches ignited obviously and the match book cover was fragmented.
    What I would like to know is this. As so many soldiers of the day smoked was this a common occurrence?
    Does the story have any basis in fact? Is this a one off once in a life time escape from death?
    I hope some of you can shed some light on this perplexing anecdote.

    Looking forwards to your replies.
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

  3. Aubrey Hill

    Aubrey Hill Member

    Thanks Tricky. So story is plausible then. I just need to see if its recorded anywhere. I would like to know which war and where it happened.
    Thanks again.
     
  4. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Tricky Dicky likes this.
  5. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Aubrey

    Those were just a few I found on the first google page that came up searching for "soldiers saved by cigarette cases". I am sure if you searched using other parameters then you could, as they say, "fill yer boots".

    As CL1 says, obtain his records then you will know the (hopefully) exact date this happened which may help you narrow down your search

    TD

    They will come from all sorts of directions - Soldier’s life saved at the Somme by his Bible

    Battle of the Somme: Soldier's life saved by spoon and Bible kept in his jacket pocket

    Soldier's life saved by family photos in breast pocket
     
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    His injuries should be recorded in his service records. My partners grandfathers are, we now know his limp was due to a German mortar round.
     
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  7. Aubrey Hill

    Aubrey Hill Member

    Thanks for all of your help guys. I will let you know how I get on. BTW Have you heard about this great project?
    The Long Way Home
     

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