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The three brothers: from left, Albert
†,
Jack
†
and Len Troke in uniform.
Abert "Albie" is buried at Brunssum War
Cemetery
Some
information about Albert (Albie)Troke. Albie was born in
1918, the eldest son of Albert and Annie Troke (nee McCrea)
of Hillingdon, Middlesex, England. Their other children were
Leonard (Len) Troke, born 1920, Sydney (Jack) Troke, born
1921 and Lily Francis (nee Troke) born 1926. Lily is my
mother.
Jack passed away in 2002 at
the age of 81. Len is still alive, having had his 91st
birthday in March this year, but his memory is fading. He
lives in Essex, England. Lily, my mother is also still
alive and had her 85th birthday in June this
year. We live in Australia, having emigrated from England in
early 1966.
The three brothers were all
conscientious objectors who decided that, although they
could not condone the taking of a life, they were morally
bound to assist in any way they could to combat Nazi
tyranny. They joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in the
hope that they could save lives. All three brothers were
talented musicians and artists.
Albie and Len Troke were caught up in the
Ardennes offensive of December 1944 and Albie was killed on
30 December 1944. He apparently was ordered to fall back
from an advance dressing station in a farm house that was
under attack by the Germans. He was unable to find his mate
Bill and so returned to the farm house to search for him.
The farm house was hit by a German shell and Albie and his
mate Bill were killed. Bill, or William Dormor, is buried
next to Albie at Brunssum cemetery. Albie’s brother Len was
amongst the first allied soldiers at the scene, and faced
the heartbreaking task of identifying his brother’s body.
Gary
Francis |
