My father fought in Europe in WWII from 1939 to 1945. He passed away in 1983 after migrating with his family from Scotland to Australia. My sister in law gave me my father’s campaign medals. My father never collected them and unbeknownst to me my late brother obtained them a couple of years ago!
How special that you now have them. My father also fought in WWII and as a child I remember seeing his medals but he passed away in 2001 and I don't know what became of them.
@cdcook48
Thanks Chris. My father absolutely never talked about his war. I did find out he was in the Royal Artillery when they “liberated” Bergen Belsen concentration camp. How awful!
@cdcook48@johnfalconer Amazing stories. My grandfather also fought in the war. And my father and my uncle get a compensation (or allowance?) from the state for the fact that he was a war prisoner. He did not get any medals, I think. What I remember was his stories about being a prisoner and barely surviving. He always told them to me when I was picky with the food.
That's a fantastic piece of personal history to own. My grandfather went over the top at the Somme and survived, I have some of his medals. My father who has just died (at 98) did some form of diplomatic service in WWII but it seems to be impossible to find out what, so frustrating !
What a wonderful keep sake John you must be very proud of the things he did for all of us, my father never said much about his service in WWII, only after he died I got a copy of his army service, the family were amazed at the things he did landing on D day plus 2 all the way into Germany until January 1946
@pcoulson
Dad became a complete pacifist (I think because of Bergen Belsen) and we were all going migrate to Canada. My younger brother and I turned up so he and mum said ok let’s go to Australia.
The only thing dad ever mentioned about the war was how to say in French Dutch and German “would you like to walk with me down the street (to beautiful girls he said.)”
😀😀😀😀
Very nice image of your dad’s medals. My dad served in WWII and said he spent most of his time in France and Brussels. My dad passed in 1996. There aren’t many WWII Vets left of what is called “the greatest generation ever lived”.
What a wonderful thing to have in memory of your dad. These quiet heroes just got on with the card they were dealt and it seems that the majority never told the tales afterwards. They certainly were the 'greatest generation' and we owe them so much.
How great that you now have them. My Dad was a POW in WW2. He would talk about amusing stories but really much else. However he did always say that they were treated well.
How very special to have these. Part of your own family history. I imagine the emotions were mixed for him over those years of service. Everyone's war bore different memories.
Thanks Chris. My father absolutely never talked about his war. I did find out he was in the Royal Artillery when they “liberated” Bergen Belsen concentration camp. How awful!
Dad became a complete pacifist (I think because of Bergen Belsen) and we were all going migrate to Canada. My younger brother and I turned up so he and mum said ok let’s go to Australia.
The only thing dad ever mentioned about the war was how to say in French Dutch and German “would you like to walk with me down the street (to beautiful girls he said.)”
😀😀😀😀
Ian
Thanks for the much appreciated comments. As I said. I know very little about my father’s war. And I was surprised when my my dear sister in law gave me the medals. Thanks everyone.
I imagine that my father hated anything to do with war after what I read he had seen.