05-May-2025

Late Veteran Reggie Pye's Tribute Plaque to a Fallen Comrade

D-Day Veteran Reginald Pye, who sadly passed away aged 101 earlier this year, was passionate about remembrance and dedicated a plaque to his friend, Walter Stanion. His friend, Emma Newton, shares Reg’s moving story:

“Reginald and Walter were in the same regiment, 224 Field Company, 8th Corps.  They met up and became friends and watched each other’s back during the war. On one fateful day in France, Walter asked Reginald, who was supposed to go on duty, if he could swap places with him. Walter needed time off the week after, to go home on leave, so Reggie agreed to swap places, saying, “I’ll take off now and you can take my time off next week”.

Walter was de-mining in Northern France when he was bombed and received serious shrapnel injuries. Reggie, who was responsible for driving the injured to hospital, then had to drive his injured friend to the hospital in Kiel, Germany.

Walter entrusted Reggie with his ration book and his money, which he had saved for his wife and personal belongings for safekeeping.  Reggie then had to get straight back on duty. When he next went back up to Kiel to visit him he was devastated to discover that his friend had died from his injuries. Reggie wrote to Walter’s wife and family and made sure they received his personal possessions.

If they hadn’t swapped places that ill-fated day, Reggie would not have survived the war – something that Reggie never forgot and never got over.  He always felt that it should have been him.  The plaque was his very small way of ensuring that this ultimate sacrifice of Wally’s was never forgotten by Reggie, or anyone else.”

Reggie visited the Memorial last summer and was able to see the dedication to his friend Wally, situated among the Giants. You can watch his moving reaction In this short film.

You can find out more about sponsoring a plaque here.