LES Collett’s memories of leaving Dunkirk with a bullet in his shoulder have been recorded for posterity by Second World War researchers.

In May, Mr Collett, from Wolvercote, revealed how in 1940, aged just 20, he was one of the youngest men in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry’s 4th Battalion to fight a heroic rearguard action at the hilltop town of Cassel.

After the Oxford Mail featured Mr Collett’s story, to mark the 70th anniversary of the Dunkirk evacuation, he was contacted by the Second World War Experience Centre.

Mr Collett, 89, spoke to researcher Matthew Smaldon, 36, from Abingdon, who visited Mr Collett to record his memories.

Father-of-two Mr Collett, who lives with his wife Gladys in the village where he was born, said: “I was delighted that the centre got in touch and I’m pleased that my memories have now been recorded.

“I enjoyed talking to Mr Smaldon and he gave me two copies of the tapes to keep.

“My son Michael, who is 66, is coming round to listen to the tapes with me because he is very interested in what happened.

“Talking about the war does bring back memories but I always try to remember the good things in life.”

Private Collett was captured by the Germans following the battle 20 miles south of Dunkirk, but managed to escape and made his way to the beaches on the French coast.

He was shot in the right shoulder as he waited to be rescued but still made it on board a boat to take him back to England.

After the war, Mr Collett worked as a chef in Brighton before he returned to Oxford to work at the then Morris Motors’ Cowley factory for 37 years.

He helped to form the Wolvercote branch of the Royal British Legion.

The centre in Leeds has volunteers working across the country to record the memories of soldiers who fought in the Second World War, and those on the Home Front.

Mr Smaldon, who works for an Oxford-based publisher, visits veterans regularly to record the historic material.

He said: “I have been recording these interviews for the centre for the past five years because I think it is important that the memories are not forgotten.

“Les was able to provide a fascinating perspective of a local man serving in the 4th Battalion of the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry because the majority were either killed or captured before Dunkirk.

“I have spoken to about 250 people so far and more than 4,000 recordings have been made by volunteers across the country.

“We are hoping to speak to as many servicemen as possible because a lot of the interviews recorded have been with evacuees or civilians.”

The centre is often used by authors who are writing books about the Second World War, or by students and TV researchers.

For further information about the Second World War Experience Centre visit the website war-experience.org or call Mr Smaldon on 01235 526734.