A MEDWAY gunner artificer who taught generations of Kent students mechanical engineering received his one and only "war wound" as he paraded on Victoria Docks, London, ready to join a convoy for service in Normandy in 1944.

Roger Driscoll, 79, of Norah Lane, Higham said: "A flying bomb flew over the docks and when the engine stopped just above us, we threw ourselves to the floor and I got a really beautiful black eye.

"That was my only war wound I went right through Normandy and up to Hamburg totally unscathed but always remember the black eye in England as I waited to go off to fight."

Roger, who said he really enjoyed his war service, joined the Royal Artillery as an apprentice artificer in 1939 as a boy of 14.

The apprenticeship lasted four-and-a-half years officially, but the War Office reduced it to four years to get young gunners out into regiments to prepare for Operation Overlord.

A regular soldier, Roger transferred into the REME as a warrant officer in 1951 and took redundancy 10 years later.

He then taught mechanical engineering at Gravesend Technical College until retiring in 1983.

"I am looking forward to the 60th anniversary celebrations in Normandy," he said.

"They will bring back many proud and happy memories."