WHEN Sergeant Major Martin Langsford of the Devon Army Cadet Force in Tavistock read about the wartime exploits of former Second World War veteran Garth Wright in the Times, he decided to invite the old soldier back to the barrack rooms where his military life began more than 75 years ago.

Garth, now aged 97 and who lives in Plymouth, was delighted to accept — not that he is used to disobeying ‘orders’ from his NCO. So on one chilly winter’s Monday night Garth smartly turned out on parade at Crelake Barracks, exactly at 1900 hours, to be warmly greeted with a salute by the Sergeant Major, Second Lieutenant Paul Laurance-Young and the young cadets of B Company, DACF.

Just before the Second World War, in the summer of 1939, Garth, lived at Hornden.

When Sgt Major Martin and Gunner Garth got talking they found they had far more in common than they realised and certainly had a lot to talk about.

Garth’s father was the publican at the New Inn (now known as the Elephant’s Nest).

At the time he worked as a labourer, one of his jobs was as a leatsman on the moors.

As war with Germany was imminent, Garth joined up and enlisted with the Territorial Army, and 153 Battalion, which was part of the 51st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, based at Crelake Barracks at Tavistock.

He later went on to serve as an ack-ack gunner, helping to defend London from the German Luffwaffe before going on to see action at Dunkirk, North Africa and one of the war’s most bloody battles, Monte Cassino in Italy.

As for Martin, aged 53, he may not have been on the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940 but he has more than 40 years service with the DACF.

By co-incidence, Martin too, is a leatsman — working at Mary Tavy power station — clearing blockages, building up the river banks, responsible for keeping the water flowing at Wheal Jewel Reservoir, Doe Tor, Hill Bridge and Wheal Bennett reservoirs, which feed the station’s turbines.

Just like Garth, he too has a connection with the Elephant’s Nest — although as an apprenticed french polisher, he remembers ‘varnishing the bar’ on one or two occasions.

Martin told the Times: ‘It was absolutely superb to meet a person like Garth and I will definitely keep in touch. I would love to hear more about the power station and the leats from when he was down here as well as time here at Crelake Barracks and his wartime experiences.

‘When he took the final parade at the end of the evening, and took the trouble to have a word with everyone of the cadets, it was a special moment.

‘I know the youngsters will be talking about his visit for months. I’m certainly going to ask our commanding officer if Garth could become an honorary member of the DACF, Tavistock!’

The Army veteran was thrilled to be asked by Second Lt Laurance-Young to take the parade.

He said: ‘To see these youngsters turn out like this gives me great pride. What they learn here is a fine start to life. They already have made friends here and if they go into the Armed Services they will meet people there who will be their comrades for life.

‘It gets in the blood. I still recall some of my the lads I grew up with, including Harry Anderson who saved my life, and I shall never forget them.’