大象传媒

Bomb Disposal in Birmingham
My Dad, Frederick James Hacon, was born on 13th February 1920, the youngest in a family of eight children, in Great Yarmouth.
His Second World War history began on 27th June 1940 (coincidentally, I was born exactly seven years later!) when, at the age of 20, he was enlisted into the Royal Engineers embodied Territorial Army and posted to no. 10 Training Battalion. (Sapper 2113085 - acting Lance Corporal).
On 13th September of the same year he was posted to No. 9 Bomb Disposal Company, which was based in Birmingham and remained there until his discharge on 18th August 1946.
He spent his army career bravely diffusing bombs in various locations throughout the Midlands and was featured in the local newspaper, standing in a crater with his colleague, Charlie Hubbard, whilst diffusing a 500lb. bomb, which had landed in Moseley.
Thankfully, Dad survived the war, despite being involved in an extremely dangerous occupation, where life expectancy was said to be around just two weeks, and having seen so many of his friends and officers perish when the bombs they had been attempting to diffuse, had exploded.
He enjoyed a long and happy life with his family until he sadly passed away on 17th January 2002 after suffering many years of ill health and finally losing his fight for life 12 days after suffering a major stroke.
My family and I have always been extremely proud of the amazing bravery shown by my wonderful Dad, and I wanted to share this short report with others and to pay this enduring tribute to him and his equally brave colleagues who played such a large and important part in the war.

I would be interested in hearing from anyone connected with his particular Company.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.