About the contributor

My name is Michael Vila. I am using this opportunity to place on record the story of my uncle's war which was served in both the French and British armies. He wrote the story before his death in 2003.

My uncle was Maurice Vila, born 11th May 1913 in Colombo, Ceylon, of a French father and British mother. He died on 31st May 2003. On the outbreak of WW2 he lived in London but as he held dual nationality was called up to the French Army and took part in the defence of Paris. After the fall of France he worked in Paris for a time but then decided to attempt to return to the UK. He escaped to Spain and returned to Britain on a convoy from Gibraltar. After a spell of internment in London he enlisted in the British Army. As an interpreter in the Intelligence Corps he returned to France after D Day and followed the allies' advance as far as Brussels.