- Contributed by听
- John Collins (Grandson of William Gilbert Corp. South Staffs Reg.)
- People in story:听
- William Gilbert, Corp. South Staffordshire Reg., (TA), and his wife Harriet
- Location of story:听
- Across France to Dunkirk, and back home in Moxley, Darlaston.
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A2312894
- Contributed on:听
- 18 February 2004
My Grandfather and Grandmother often talked to me about what they did during the war, especially the torrid times my Grandfather experienced as a member of the British Expeditionary Force, fighting his way through France to get to Dunkirk. Also the losses my Grandmother and Grandfather suffered in the war effort back home, as workers for Rubery Owen, GKN Sankey and Garringtons, important factories for the area and many times bombed.
Grandad was always adamant that Dunkirk was the result of the Belgian forces breaking their lines, and spoke of this with a passion, I therefore apologise to any Belgian readers beforehand.
Shortly after the war my grandfather suffered a nervous breakdown, attributed to his experiences at Dunkirk. Many is the time he would break down in tears, telling me about his exploits, and some tales he simply could not finish - (my grandmother would sometimes finish them for him afterwards).
The following stories are theirs:
(will continue on Fri. 20th Feb, please note: this will be a long drawn effort, OU work commitments).
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