In this 80th anniversary year emphasis in the media is very much on the younger generation and how they are responding to the wartime experiences of their forebears. I am sure the following is one of many Dukie-related stories.

A very recent request from Alexander’s granddaughter for any information the school could provide about him lead to a fascinating exchange of information.

The School Chronicle and his file revealed that he was a useful left-arm bowler, played soccer and was part of the Corps of Drums. He gained the 2nd Class Army certificate and joined the Army Training School in Chepstow at the age of 15. He left holding the rank of Corporal, two Good Conduct badges and an exemplary record. Further research revealed that Alexander’s older cousin, Ivor Hope was born at DYRMS and was a pupil, leaving to join The Royal Horse Guards in 1939. His father, Ivor Frank was also a Dukie being a pupil both at Chelsea and Dover (1905-1910). He was for employed as the Institution Clerk at DYRMS during the 1930s & 40s and was for many years on the Central Committee of the Old Boys’ Association. Alexander attended several OBA reunions in the 1960s & 70s.

Alexander’s granddaughter was kind enough to share photographs of him at the start of his military service at Chepstow and later in 1946 as a 22-year-old Corporal with 483 Heavy Tank Recovery, 70 Armoured Division. (He’s middle row second left in the gallery picture)

Alexander Sinclair Gillett

VE Day Church Service Talk

This speech was made on Sunday 4th May 2025 by Alec’s 11-year-old Great Granddaughter at St Cedwyn’s Church, Llangedwyn, Powys, where Alec is buried and spent his final years with his wife, Patricia Gillett.  Patricia passed away on 17th February 2007.  They had five children, Geoff (1949) and Bill (1951) (both sons also served in the Army), Jane (1955), Jean (1957) and Jennifer (1966) There are also sixteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren to date.  Jennifer’s granddaughter, Ameila reading the speech.  The speech was part of a commemorative service in aid of the 80th Anniversary of VE Day.

I would like to thank Andrew Nunn who has been incredibly helpful in finding out more about my Grandad’s time at DOYMS. It was fascinating just to get the attendance dates confirmed, let alone see documents from that time as well as finding out more about Grandad and his cousin, Ivor Hope’s time there and also Ivor’s father, Ivor Frank.  It has opened a door to research even further into the family’s history and my next stop is finding out about what Grandad and Ivor Hope’s fathers did during WWI. 

Speech:

“When my family was asked to say a few words about my Great Grandad’s experience during the Second World War, we realised how little we knew about it. 

I never met my Great-Grandad; I have been told what an amazing man he was.  A family man.  Kind, sociable, loved by all and enjoyed a pint or two!  In March 1993, at the age of 68, he unfortunately passed away and is buried here, at Llangedwyn Church.  He rarely spoke about his time as a serving soldier.  Apart from odd glimpses through each of his children when he felt able to express his thoughts on this.  Learning more about what he did during the war has been enlightening and has given my family an understanding of the horrors that he witnessed.

Alexander Sinclair Gillett was born in a military hospital in Chatham, Kent on the 12th of September 1924.  He went to the Duke of York’s Military School in Dover between the ages of 11 to 15.  He attended the school with his cousin, Ivor Hope Gillett.  They shared a boarding house and both received good conduct badges during their time.  Grandad was also a keen cricketer, a left-hand bowler and upon leaving, he held the school’s rank of corporal.

In January 1940, at 15, just months before his fellow pupils in Dover were being evacuated, he joined the Army Apprentice College at Chepstow.  In September 1942, at 18, he joined the colour service as part of the REME and trained as a mechanic and armourer.  Two years later, on D Day, he was just 19 years old, and he was part of a tank regiment within Hobart’s 79th Armoured Division entering Normandy from Sword Beach. 

After D Day, he fought in the final stages of the wider battle of Normandy during August 1944 which was known as the Battle of the Falaise Gap.  Then went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945.  The last German offensive on the Western front, in the Ardennes Forest.  And in March 1945 he was part of Operation Plunder across the River Rhine, Germany. 

By 15th April 1945, he was one of the Allied soldiers to assist in the liberation of the Bergen Belsen Nazi Concentration Camp.

On arrival at Belsen, there were many horrors witnessed by the Allied troops.  Watching some of the footage from this time of the liberation is very hard.  For my family, researching the subject and comprehending the sights and smells they would have experienced has been difficult to fully grasp.  As the allies entered the camp, prisoners including Jews, Gypsies and Poles, were walking around as shells of their former selves.  It was becoming apparent to the Allies the horrors committed by the nazis. 

The liberators felt anger, unable to grasp their realities.  They were absolutely horrified and this feeling would never leave them.  Over 52,000 people perished at the hands of the Nazis at Belsen, mainly from typhus, dysentery or starvation, including Anne Frank and her sister Margot, just weeks before the liberation.  And a further 13,000 Belsen prisoners would pass away after the liberation, unable to regain their strength and health.

My Granny, aunties and uncles wish they’d listened a lot more during their visits to the Bovington Tank Museum back in the 1970s and onwards with their Dad.  At the time, it felt a bit boring, but now they would give anything to wonder around the tank museum with him.

We must never forget what my Great Grandad and all the other people involved in the war did for us.  It had a profound effect in shaping the world we live in today and we will be forever grateful for their sacrifices.

Thank you for listening to me talk about my lovely Grandad Alec and his World War Two experience.”