Trooper helped to turn the tide

WINSTON Churchill called the Battle of El Alamein “the end of the beginning” because it marked a major shift in the fortunes of the allies and Kenneth Batt was there.

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He served in North Africa and the Middle East and became the oldest Second Word War veteran by date of his enlistment.

As a territorial horseman of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, he was, ironically, shot out of a tank rather than off his horse on the first night of the legendary battle.

Batt and his crew managed to bale out and limp back to the infantry lines, where Batt was asked if he needed a drink.

A tin of peaches was offered. As he drank the juice, the driver, standing beside him, was killed.