Manx ex-serviceman to receive top Royal Artillery honour

Mr Kneale becomes only the third person to ever be awarded the Gold medal.

An ex-serviceman from Douglas is set to become one of a select few to be awarded a prestigious Royal Artillery Association gold medal.

Douglas man Willie Kneale was drafted to go out to Germany in 1952 to help protect the country from the threat of Russians, but it’s his subsequent time as secretary of the Royal Artillery Association that has gained him the recognition.

It’s a position he’s held for the last 17 years.

Mr Kneale becomes only the third person to ever be awarded the Gold medal.

He’ll receive it at the organisations annual assembly in Blackpool tomorrow; he’ll be joined by nearly 40 other Manx members.

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