Hi guys, I just want to tell you a story about an expireance one of my freinds had. My freind's Grandad passed away recently. When he died my freind recevied a series of medals including the following: Africa Star Africa Service Medal He also had some bravary medals from his time in service. It turned out that he had been a Sergeant in the Desert Rats and had served in Africa and France. When he died my freind realised how little he had asked his Granddad about his expireances he felt very upset and i had to spend many weeks trying to comfort him. I have also realised that i have not talked to either of my Granperants enough about their expireances. One was a flight engineer in 207 Squdn RAF and the other was in the Royal Signals. My Granddad who served in the Suez campaign in the Royal Signals is suffering from serious mental health problems. I have managed to get some information out of him and he was very pleased to share his story. Just remember that people don't live for ever so ask them before its too late.
Very true... Wont be long before all we have is memories of them For what its worth... Both my Grandfather's served in the Royal West Kents, one in 1940 and suffered at Dunkirk, the other during the closing stages of the war. Perhaps the most interesting stories come from my Grandmother and Great-Aunt, both now approaching their 90's... Their stories of the Home Front are often highly amusing and have become more 'saucy' as I have got older! Weekends away with US soldiers and I was recently told that their father was a fully paid up member of Oswald Moseley's Fascist Party! Truly bizarre... I have been fortunate in having a family that is justly proud of their experiences and they have always talked about it and kept many items. I have my Great-Great Uncles WW1 uniform that he wore in Mesopotamia whilst with the Motor Machine Gun Corp and the photos he took of his service. Its soon to go to a museum so it can be preserved for the future. My paternal Great-Grandfather was the only survivor of five sons to return from the Western Front in WW1 (one of his brothers features in a published diary of a British Officer on the Western Front, he was his Batman and it ends abruptly when both are killed). Sadly my paternal Grandfather who was at Dunkirk passed away many years ago, before I could really talk to him, and after not seeing my father for many years he too has passed away taking his father stories and his own from service in Kenya against the Mau Mau to the grave. Sadly people today dont seem as interested in the past as they used to. Thankfully forums such as this exsist and bring together like minded souls who keep their memories alive.
Don't just talk to members of your family. Try (write or phone) your local British Legion for introductions to ww2 veterans who are willing to share their experiences. Some will never talk, but some like to know that the younger generations appreciate their sacrifices. Try it before they have all gone.
