When I was about 8 years old I remember doing a project at school about the war and I interviewed him about his experiences but he didn't open up much and really gave me nothing to go on. I embellished his account of events and promptly forgot all about it.
With Rememberance Day this Sunday, I started chatting to my mum about it. I told her he never really talked about the war and his experiences.
I learned that he was taken prisoner in Italy in 1942/ 1943 and my nan never heard from him again until the end of the war. She wasn't sure if he was dead or alive.
Whilst he was a prisoner of war his told by the Germans that he was to help to make bullets. Apparently him and all his regiment flatly refused to do such a task and told them they would rather die than to make bullets that would kill their allies. Reluctantly the Germans agreed and they ended up sewing parachutes or something similar.
When the final days of the war came, his regiment were moved from the camp and marched onwards. They knew that the war was over because one by one the German officers fled and they were finally picked up and taken to safety by the Americans.
To his dying day he never really talked about it again. My mum told me that he had seen so many horrors that he didn't want to relive it and he certainly didn't want an impressionable 8 year old to know such things went on.
As much as I agree to his sentiment it pains me greatly that there is so much that went on in his life that we will never know about. So much that we should know about. So much that we should NEVER FORGET.
I am incredibly proud of my grandad and what he did for this country. And I will be marking my place for the two minute silence on Sunday. I implore you all to do the same.
Honouring our soldiers is all Sunday is about to me. Its not about whether you agree with war. I strongly disagree with the conflict in Afghanistan but I thank the stars every single day that there are people, braver than me, who are prepared to fight for Queen and country.
Its an issue I am passionate about. It's an issue I teach my children to be passionate about. We buy poppies every year and as much as they only last for less that a day on the childrens coats they are aware why we are buying them and for me, what the sentiment means.
Sunday should not be made into a political issue. Its just a day where we can show our respect. Where we can say thank you to soldiers past and present who have put their lives on the line so that we can have the freedoms we are so very lucky to have.
I will be paying my respects tomorrow for our active serving heroes and for our heroes who have fallen along the way. Please. Please. May you do the same.
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