Bob Roberts now Bob Roberts then
One of Britain’s
smallest soldiers has been awarded France’s highest honour for his bravery in
the Second World War.
smallest soldiers has been awarded France’s highest honour for his bravery in
the Second World War.
5ft 3in Bob
Roberts reached great heights in the war, cheating death on numerous occasions
and taking the surrender of a 7ft 6in Nazi soldier, as captured in a striking
photograph by one of his comrades.
Roberts reached great heights in the war, cheating death on numerous occasions
and taking the surrender of a 7ft 6in Nazi soldier, as captured in a striking
photograph by one of his comrades.
He is one of the
3,000 surviving Allied servicemen to be given the prestigious Legion d’honneur
by the French government for their role in liberating the country from the
Nazis.
3,000 surviving Allied servicemen to be given the prestigious Legion d’honneur
by the French government for their role in liberating the country from the
Nazis.
The 92-year-old
great-grandfather served as a Corporal in the war, fighting in France and
evading death at every turn.
great-grandfather served as a Corporal in the war, fighting in France and
evading death at every turn.
He came close to
losing his life more than once, surviving a blast that killed the man next to
him, being grazed on the temple by a sniper’s bullet and witnessing an enemy
spy be shot dead moments before she killed him.
losing his life more than once, surviving a blast that killed the man next to
him, being grazed on the temple by a sniper’s bullet and witnessing an enemy
spy be shot dead moments before she killed him.
Tragically, his
younger brother Ernie was less lucky and died only the day after he took up the
same position Mr Roberts had just left when his company was relieved.
younger brother Ernie was less lucky and died only the day after he took up the
same position Mr Roberts had just left when his company was relieved.
Mr Roberts’ most
memorable moment came when he took the surrender of Germany’s tallest soldier.
Standing at 7ft 6ins, Jakob Nacken was more than two feet taller than his
British counterpart.
memorable moment came when he took the surrender of Germany’s tallest soldier.
Standing at 7ft 6ins, Jakob Nacken was more than two feet taller than his
British counterpart.
The David and
Goliath moment was caught on camera by one of Mr Roberts’ comrades.
Goliath moment was caught on camera by one of Mr Roberts’ comrades.
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