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by Margaret Dillon

My whole family have been in the forces in one way or another.

Mr Great Grandfather fought in the Boer War.

Mr Grandfather fought in the First World War and then was given a commission by King George V to Burma afterwards.

Mr Father and his four brothers all fought in the Second World War in some way or another — except for one who was only fourteen at the time so was too young, but he kept trying to run away to join up — he really wanted to be involved, and eventually got himself involved by selling things on the black-market. Chocolates and bacon and other things that were difficult to get hold of.

My eldest uncle was Uncle Jack who was a Dam Engineer. He used to build dams.

My Auntie Dorrie was a Land Girl in Burnley during the Second World War and she then became a wren.

Mr Dad was in the RAF — he was 16 when he joined up just after the war, and was involved in the Berlin Airlift.

My Uncle Ted was a fighter pilot in the RAF and flew Spitfires. He was 16 when he joined up and was 17 when he fought in the Battle of Britain.

My Uncle John was an atheist so he didn’t fight in the war, but instead was a medic.

My Uncle Paul was in the Navy and he used to escort the merchant ships to and fro as protection. He was bombed and sunk many times.

This photograph was submitted to the People’s War site by Becky Barugh of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Shropshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of Margaret Dillon and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

See more of Margaret's stories and photographs:

• Building a church altar
• Uncle Ted, the Spitfire Pilot
• Just before the Battle of Britain
• Auntie Dorrie the Land Girl
• Land Girls in the lettuces
• With the Trans-Jordan Frontier Force
• Parading with the Trans-Jordan Frontier Force
• Donkey carts
• VJ Day in Colombo - The women marching
• VJ Day in Colombo - The men marching

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