大象传媒

Firstly, I am 48 (female) so I wasn't alive during WW2. My father, who died eight years ago at age 81, was in the 1st Hampshire regiment and landed on Gold Beach in Normandy. Sadly, that's all I know, because he'd never talk about what happened. I have been glued to the TV programmes and I have seen for myself the terror and horror on the faces of the troops who were 'lucky' enough to make it off the landing craft without being killed instantly. I can understand my father's reluctance to talk about it now. Just an ordinary bloke (he drove a horse drawn dray for Bass Brewery at Burton-on-Trent) who was thrown into mayhem, fright and horror, to loose comrades, and who had to try to forget that it was necessary for him to kill. Okay, they were the enemy, but the German soldiers were humans. I believe that must have been the hardest for my father, and I'm convinced he NEVER forgot. I'm also sure that he was protecting his family by not talking about it. Incidentally, in his mind when it was over, it was over, he was never, ever, inclined to obtain his campaign medal. Watching the programmes I can understand why. Many men who were not 'military' - how can I ever thank them enough for the sacrifices they endured. All I can say is Thank You.

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