大象传媒

My grandfather, Daniel McMullan, served in the RNVR during the War. I didn't know much of this when I was younger as he died before I really got to know him, and like anyone who served he didn't really talk about it. After his death, in 1982, my grandmother gave me his campaign medals and copies of his service record and medical report. These form the basis of my story.
I know that he saw action at Dunkirk where he went back and forth to rescue troops on a paddlesteamer, armed only with a rifle for protection. This must have been a pretty harrowing experience as it was his first real taste of the War. However he survived and saw further action aboard the minesweepers that provided protection for the Allied invasion fleets in Sicily and Italy. From here he proceded to serve aboard a Motor Torpedo boat by the name of HMS Victory!! in the English Channel and ended the War here.
His medical report states that during a night action in 1942 he was wounded in the back by a piece of shrapnel performing his duties as a gunlayer. I know from my grandmother that this chunk of metal remained in his back until the day he died.
So there you go that's my grandfather's story. I'm sorry that I didn't get to know him better. I would liked to have spoken to him in my teenage years when I maybe could have talked to him and heard his thoughts and reflections on what he went through. But from what I have I can piece together a story of what his experiences were during the time he spent at sea. No matter the level of detail I am still enormmously proud of him. He served and was wounded in doing so, there isn't much more you can do for your country when you are asked.
As a little addendum, I remember asking my grandmother, and her mother for some of their memories from the War. My great grandmother told me of how she entertained the crew of an American tank that during an exercise pulled up outside her cottage in the countryside and had tea with them. I once asked my grandmother what her memories of VE Day were. She was riding her bicycle into town and going too fast. In her excitement she braked too hard and flew over the handlebars breaking her wrist when she landed!! Not exactly the way she would have wanted to remember the downfall of the Nazis I am sure.
I hope these little stories are of interest to whoever may read them and I look forward to reading others myself.

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