Martin Vokes and RSM Alcock. Cyprus, date unknown.

My father, RSM John Alcock, is seated on the right with his shirt off. This image was taken in Cyrprus. He is sitting next to Martin Vokes. Both men knew each other during World War Two when they both served in the 2 SAS regiment. My father won the Croix de Guerre at Silver Star level. This was one of eleven such medals won by the wartime SAS. In 1982 father and I visited his SAS operational area in Alsace Lorraine and said a big thank you to the French families who had hidden him and his three man patrol. He and his men killed several of the enemy at close quarters when momentarily trapped at a cottage in the woods. But the SAS patrol shot their would be captors. This is my fathers oral story. The official version is at odds with his oral story in places. I believe in the oral story. He and his men got back into allied lines by capturing an American front line outpost. Some of them were asleep. These men came from the 4th Armoured division. The SAS Operation was called Operation Pistol.