Men of Steel.

I too have my father's WW2 medals, he served in the Lancashire Fusilers in Italy and India (this is odd as there is no record of the LF ever been in India) where he delevoped his love of curries. I also have his paybook and the telegram sent to my grandmother saying he had been wounded. It had the line remained at duty in it which always made me think. Likewise he never talked about it much even when pressed, he just said it was waste of 5 years of his life. Two doors up from where we lived was a chap who was great friends with my dad, he was called 'Ginger', who was very quiet and I thought he was rather boring, only after he died I found out he had been in the RAF and had done over 60 bombing missions over Germany!

My Garndfather on my mother's side fought at Vittorio Veneto in the first world war.

MY father was in the RAF and he did share a few anecdotes. Prmarily about his journey in a troopship to S Africa and one account when he came under fire. That was in Norway whilst he was shaving and a Quisling took a pot shot and shattered his shaving mirror.

Mt grandfather was on the Somme and again had a few anecdotes of the lighter side of things but never spoke of events save to describe it as "up to your neck in mud and bullets".

My grandad was in WW1 and served in the Lancashire Yeomanry.  He served at Ypres, the Somme and others in between.  He was wounded, shot in the neck, but lived thanfully.  My dad served in the Royal Navy and mainly served in the Pacific (funnily enough he hated what he called the stench of India - they knew when they were nearing that country before they spotted land - curry).  He also served in a bit of the D-day landings as his was on the ships that pounded Le Harve; he was also nearing Malta on their way to the Pacific when the ship was sunk.  So we got his medals for him (my OH was researching his uncle who was killed in action in France during WW!), so knew how to go about getting medals.  Also my Uncle Jack served in the army during WW2 and served in the Pacific and got malaria very badly which he suffered from until his death in the 80s.

Great posts there team and i can add that my dad did take a bullit in the ankle but soon recovered.The only story i do remember him telling me concerned himself and one of his mates on sentry duty one night when two german officers came out of the darkness and surrendered.Both these officers were wearing brand new Luger pistols with white leather holsters and belts.Dad and his mate confiscated the guns and holsters and kept them.Now because of the penalties of trying too bring such trophies home my dad sold the gun too a yank for £18 which was a lot of money in those days.A great story i,ve never forgotten.We can only try to imagine what it must have been like to go too war and lets hope thats how it stays.

peter.

My Great Uncle served in the Field Artillery in the 1WW, he served at all the major battles both in France/Belguim and then went to the middle east where he died of Flu in December 1918 and is buried in Cario.

Wifes Grandfather was in the Aboukir one of 3 cruisers torpedo of Holland in September 1914.

My Dad never talked about the war although having his service record I know he was in Palastine for 2 years before the war, then transferred to Egypt/Lybia in 1939 and returned to the UK wonded in 1943.  He was a career soldier so continued to serve until 1960

Just a bit of trivia.  Arthur Ridley (Godfrey in Dad's Army) was in both world wars (was evacuated from Dunkirk), and his great, great niece is one of the main actors in the latest Star War films (she plays Rey)

I am privileged to have both my great grandfathers and my grandads medals.My great grandfather was a gunner and fought at Ypres and my granddad was in the royal navy in the Atlantic. My grandad was in later life able to claim for a war wound to his eye that was caused by his own gun.

My grandad was at the Somme never heard him talk about it,but it must have been bad as he was left with a stutter that he didn't have before, my gran said. My dad was in the Navy right at the end of the war, my son who is still serving has his medals he is re-doing the ribons on them and then putting them in a display case. 

Just incase anyone is interested my son mounts medals, its one of his interests. If anyone would like to re-do a set or to get the minatures he can do all that, I might be biased but he is very good at it and doesn't charge the earth. Should anyone be interest let me know and I can put you in touch with him.

I used the Karcher on my Battle of Menorca medals, they have not been cleaned for, must be 200 years !!

Admiral

"Admiral"  Your new Avatar scares the living daylights out of me!  I thought your original was more in keeping with your Rank and status.

 Said with all due humility of course and with knuckles firmly pressed against brow.

TF