大象传媒

My Grandfather Bernard Hogan ( know to everyone as Barney )was born on the 1st August 1912 in St Georges Terrace, Comus Street, Liverpool. He was the son of John and Mary Hogan( nee Flaherety ) and had two brothers, John and Thomas, and a sister Winifred. His father John Hogan joined the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1916 and served at Ypres. Sadly John was killed in action on 24th June 1917. Bernard attended Bishop Goss school until the age of 14. He then found work as a Dock Labourer and Later a Flagger for The LIverpool council. Sometime in the mid 1930`s he met my grandmother Ellen Owens ( Known as Nellie to everyone ). Ellen was the Daughter of John and Sarah Ann Owens ( nee Cain ). Ellen was born in the Bootle area of Liverpool and had a older brother called Austin. Her father John had served time in the Army in India and South africa before returning home and finding work as a Coal Heaver for the Cunard Line. John remained on the Army reserved list and was called up at the start of world war 1. He served with The East Lancashire Regiment. Unfortunatly, John was killed in action on 13th May 1915 at Ypres. Ellens mother later remarried and they moved to Kew street in the Scotland road area of Liverpool. It is here that she met my grandfather and after a courtship they married on 28th March 1937 at St Anthony`s Church. They set up home at 98 St Martins Cottages( the first council houses to be built in Europe )and settled into their new life. In March 1938 they where blessed with the birth of my father. Life must have seemed grand to the happy couple, but in 1939 the world changed and Bernard was called up to serve for his country. He signed his Army papers on 6th December 1939, before leaving Ellen for Training. After a short term of leave he was posted overseas. Bernard arrived in Malta on 29th October1940. His army medical records show him to have bad teeth, a small mole 2 inches below his nipple and a swelling the size of a hazelnut above his right testicle. He wore a size 7 hat and had size 8 boots. he stood 5 feet 5 inches, had hazel eyes and brown hair. In Malta he joined the Royal Artillery. 12th field regiment as a Gunner and was attended to the 222nd AA battery. he remained in Malta for the next three years and fought the German Luftwaffa. on 13th September 1943 he was admitted to hospital( i can find no reason why? ) Bernard was discharges back to his unit on 27th October of the same year. Two days later and three years to the day that he arrived, My grandfather left Malta and headed for Italy. He was attended to the 51st Medium regiment as part of the 8th army corps. Bernard fought through Italy and although i am unclear of his movements he probably crossed the Garigliano river and fought at Monte Cassino. I never knew my Grandad and on 25th January 1944 both he and I where denied that meeting when 930422 Gunner Bernard Hogan was killed in action. My Granfather is buried at Minturno war cemetery. My father never really knew him, but as a small child he knew his daddy was a soldier at war. He also knew that people feared the telegram boy. He can still recall the 18th of Febuary 1944 when the telegram came. he remembers the screams of his Mother and Grandmother and he remembers that he knew then that his daddy was never coming home. I knew as a child that my grandad had died in World war 2, but not much more, nobody spoke about it much and i suppose they had thier reasons. He never left my head and i was always wanting to know but never wanted to ask. One day i plucked up the courage to ask my Nanna and the look on her face was priceless. She told me i reminded her of him and that i looked so much like him, then she went to get a box and showed me his photograph. it was a special moment with my Nanna and one i will always treasure. Then i got older and things changed and i never got around to finding Grandad. until last year when i finally used a computer and through the internet i found my Grandad. now i know so much and have his service recirds and so much about him. My dad always found it hard to talk about him, but now he wants to visit his grave in Italy. He has never flown and says he does not trust aeroplanes, but he wants to see his dad. next year it is going to happen and my grandad will have his son, his grandson and his great grandson at his graveside. I well up now thinking about it, but i have to go and see him. he was my Grandad and i love him so much and i am so very proud of him. The picture i have submitted is a real favourite of mine and i think it shows them as a real happy family. Im too young to know world war 2. I can only read about it. But i know how it effected my Nanna and my dad and i know my grandad was a man to be proud of. Anthony Hogan.

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