He was with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
He was very brave (like so many) and only 18.
He was wounded on August 14th by a sniper...I cannot even begin to imagine how scary it was over there.
He was taken by jeep over a minefield and to a hospital plane.
He recovered in hospital until December.
His war continued in Palestine when he was better.
He died when I was 11 aged only 56...that was in 1982...I think about him all the time, but especially grateful to him today. I am lucky that he wasn't killed (like so many) because I wouldn't be here today.
Today is a special day for so many, but each and every one of us enjoy our freedom because of those extremely brave people. My grandad was part of that and I say thank you and will never forget it.
Please feel free to share your family memories in the comments.
Daisy and I watched the coverage yesterday and will again today. I will tell her about her amazing Great Great Grampy and what was done for us to keep our freedom.
Mandy x
May we never forget the sacrifices of so many, so that we could live in freedom. The greatest generation, indeed.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Theresa
DeleteYes I agree, I don't think there'll be another generation like it x
18, doesn't bear thinking about that someone so young had to face such horrors. He was a true hero, especially to have to go back!! Thank you to him and so many others that we might have our freedom :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Ellie and welcome.
DeleteHe actually had his 19th birthday while fighting on the 6th August.
When he was sent to Palestine he joined the military police...and who can blame him? Hopefully that job wasn't quite so horrific.
Watching the tv coverage was very moving. I felt sad that he never had the chance to experience that gratitude. He died aged 56 when I was only 11 so I didn't get to talk to him as much as I'd like about the war. I had to interview him for a primary school project and I still have that school work but I suspect he would never have gone into great detail as he must have witnessed some extreme horrors.
Just one man (young lad) among so many more.
I have decided to research more and discover what I can in his honour. It's just hard to find the time for hobbies...although I do find time to write my blog, go on Instagram etc! I will dig deeper as he's not here to tell me.
Thank you so much for your comment and appreciation,
Mandy x