大象传媒

I have an interest in the second World War this interest started before i knew my grandad was in the war, but my grandad died before i could throw the many questions i have at him. He spoke a little about his war time experiences with my dad while they were on there many countryside walks so the little i do know is from these conversations, searching and my grandads military service.
My grandfather grew up in witton park nr Bishop Auckland in County Durham he worked in the coal mines. He later went into the coal mine in seaham and at some point travelled on to where my story starts LONDON.
When war broke out my grandad was building air raid shelters in the London area during this time he met my Nana Charlotte (Lottie) Randall they had a war time wedding and were married at Uxbridge Register Office in Dec 1939, later the following year they had a son. For some reason maybe because of the air raids he decided to settle his family in his home town Witton Park wether he came with them or remained working in London i don`t know but in December 1940 he enlisted in the Green Howards(Yorkshie Regiment)was posted to Langside training camp. He was 31 1/2. When training was over he was posted to 1st battalion Green Howards during this time he had leave and a daughter was born, this was the last time he was to see his two children until the end of the war as he had no other leave.
His overseas service took him to India,Iraq,Middle East,British North Africa,Middle East Force and North West Europe the only Battle experiences i know about were the ones he had in Italy. He became friendly with a young soldier Private Robert Stanley Masters (his family apparently owned Masters Matches. Private Masters was killed on the 19/01/1944, I believe this was the first of many battles they fought in Italy, my grandad took his death hard and later told my dad that he found it hard to let himself get close to anyone else. By this time my grandad was nearly 35 a lot older than most of the soldiers he was fighting with.He continued through Italy and the only wounds he sustained was a gunshot wound to the behind as well as two scorpion stings (I guess these would be in Africa).He was lucky.
He arrived home in March 1946 and like most soldiers settled into civilian life as best they could he went back to the building trade and had two more children another daughter and a little later a son (my dad).
As i have said he did`nt speak much about his war years, when my dad as a boy ask if he killed any germans his reply was he did`nt know he never got close enough to see but looking at the battles he was involved in it`s hard to believe he did`nt. So it was a shock to his family when a Mr Parkin`s family (the only details we have) got in touch with him to ask if he would attend his 60th birthday celebrations. Apparently my grandad had brought Mr Parkin back from no mans land after he lost his legs on a mine he was ordered not to go but my grandad could`nt leave him so he went out and brought him back. My grandad thought he had`nt done anything special it was his duty as a human. It`s sad to think so many soldiers thought this way and that so many stories remain untold.
I would love to hear from anyone who could give some light on any of the points in my story i am still researching and am sure there are more facts to find.
I would like to end by saying thankyou to all you people who played a part in the war in what ever capacity.
Don`t leave your story untold.

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