We were returning from a walk with Jinks in the park when Ray suddenly said, 'There's a good portrait for you.'
I looked and there he was, coming across the road, oh so smart and resplendent wearing all his medals, a WW2 veteran with poppies and a collection box, on his way to a spot to collect for the Poppy Appeal.
I tried not to rush straight across as he neared our side of the road but I think he had already spotted me with my camera indiscreetly visible. After saying hello, I introduced myself and found that this was Joe. I explained my project and he was only too willing to let me take a portrait and told me that lots of people had taken shots of him.
Luckily Joe was very patient and I took several shots as the background was a bit tricky: straight across the road, a rubbish bin and a large white notice strung across the front of the church; in the road, vehicles passing constantly and a traffic-light controlled pedestrian crossing; and on our side of the road, all the forecourt paraphernalia of Tesco Express.
In addition, I wanted to include not only the bright red knitted poppy atop Joe's cap but also the French Légion d'Honneur (in the centre of all his medals and on his jumper). Joe told me this was awarded to him by Francois Hollande last year and presented at a ceremony at the D-Day Museum in Portsmouth.
I had no pen or paper with me as I hadn't expected to take any strangers' photos but Joe produced a pen from his inside jacket pocket and resourcefully used the reverse of a small strip of stick-on poppies to write me his email address so I could send him a photo.
Although Joe had an eventful time in the war, luckily he was not wounded. He was in the D-Day forces who landed on Gold Beach. He directed me to his Facebook page for further information which was good as Ray and Jinks were patiently waiting to go home. (Ray is always patient and Jinks does not like the 'pack' to split up.)
In 2014, Joe was, by chance, reunited with his wartime comrade Denys for the first time in 70 years when they took the ferry to France for the D-Day 70th anniversary celebrations.
They were both in the 86th Hertfordshire Yeomanry Field Regiment, which was part of the British advance through Europe and which helped free Eindhoven from Nazi occupation, and had not seen each other since then.
I read online that the battle of the Reichswald Forest, Feb 1945, was one of the Second World War’s lesser-known battles and also one of its toughest. Joe was an ammunition truck driver
I asked Joe if he minded me enquiring about his age and found that he will be 94 in January.
One headline in an article I found in the Daily Telegraph referred to Joe as:
'the face of the D-Day commemorations'
I had no idea that Joe was living in the same neighbourhood as us and was really happy to meet him.
for more:
http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/second-world-war-hertfordshire-yeomanry-veterans/story-26065394-detail/story.html
I omitted to ask Joe what he did on his return from the war so I emailed him to ask and received this reply, ' I returned to my local council job to finish my apprenticeship as an electrician.'
Joe said that his beard is rather bushy because he is growing it at the request of a family member for a special role nearer Christmas.
Yes, could be something for the new year. Once I had done the first one, I was hooked!
Babs, you do make some treasured comments, thank you. I hope I'll meet Joe again and can treat him to coffee in the café in our village.
Ina send her love and thanks to you for you so nice comment on her pic.
Thank you so much for your enthusiastic comments!
I know Joe will like the email when it arrives in his inbox
Thank you, Peter, for as ever, your interesting comment - this was a real surprise to meet Joe in the street.