大象传媒

My interest in the war is mainly due to my parents and in-laws living through the war as teenagers and telling me stories about how they lived through shortages and the constant threat of air-raids. My father joined the Merchant Navy just after the war as he was too young to serve during the war so fortunately he did not have to work in the dangerous auxilliary supply ships.

I am also interested in the impact of war on civilains and have just come back from Berlin during the 60th anniversary of the end of the war. Sadly we witnessed a Neo-Nazi demonstration during our time there - I cannot understand how man has such a short memory of history but I am sure the demonstrators were a minority and I really feel the German people today would never return to such ideologies. The fact they have also bult a number of memorials to the Jewish dead shows they are willingly facing up to their past.

I have also visited memorials in Israel, Russia and France to soldiers, sailors and civilians and I think they are very important to ensure the world does not forget what freedom really means.

I have contributed a story on behalf of my father-in-law which although was potentially dangerous was also tinged with humour! I am sure there was such humour in the midst of the suffering.