Thursday, 11 November 2010

11/11/2010

My grandad was an anti aircraft gunner in WWII. I should add that he was lucky enough to survive and lived to a right old age - it is probably him I have to thank for my interest in all things crafty / DIY / mechanical / making, breaking and mending!

Got the following email and piccy in from blog regular, Stuart.....
Hello GBC,
Thought you might like this picture of a Royal Enfield Paratrooper's bike, all crated up and ready to go. I saw it at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire earlier this year. Recent comments on the blog regarding our brave boys and girls both past and present brought it to mind.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

My Dad was a nose gunner in a B-24 in the Pacific theater (Port Motesby, New Guinea)



BigBobW (Proudly)

Bodger said...

My Grandpa was in the Marines during WWII, my Dad career USAF working with bombs in Vietnam as well as the Bodger being career USAF working with bombs in Korea.

Bodger

U N said...

My Dad was an infantryman in WWII serving in Singapore, Malaya, and Burma. When the war ended he ended up serving in the Malay Civil War, then policing Indian Independence, and a year later the partition of India and Pakistan. He didn't get home until 1948.

U N

Stuart said...

My Dad served in North Africa and Italy with the R.E.M.E.(Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers)in WWII Doing his best to keep the wheels (and tracks)moving.

Stuart

Darrell said...

My father was Navy, Korea and Vietnam, and I was Navy 1980-2002.
Yep, GBC, I'm old.

muckle flugga man said...

Grandpa was artillery wounded at Passendale, I never heard him talk about it, but as I got old enough to know what he went through it has given me strength when either confronting something I would rather walk away from or other tricky situations I just think what Grandpa endured & what ever I'm facing is nothing in comparison.

Anonymous said...

Grandfather, too young for WW1, too old for WW2, but did his bit by making lifeboats. Dad, too young for WW2 and then flat feet and lousy hearing meant no National Service.

Respect to all.

ng

Greenbat (Phill) said...

I only recently found out about my Grandads service at his funeral. He was from Ashington in Northumberland, started working down the pit at 14. Shortly before the war he joined the Northumberland Hussars, one of the last regiments to use horses. When the horses were done away with he was trained in artillery. He served on the North west frontier in India, and narrowly avoided being sent to Burma-someone realised he should have been sent home months ago! He was then involved in clearing up Europe shortly after the war, including time at Belsen and guarding Rudolph Hess at Spandau.
At the start of the year, his care home arranged for him to have one last ride on a horse at a disabled riding school: http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2010/02/26/cavalryman-george-spowart-92-rides-for-last-time-61634-25917972/2/

Gorgeous Biker Chick said...

Some wonderful comments guys, thanks. Nice to hear about care homes doing something special rather than the usual horror stories.

Anonymous said...

My uncle was in artillery in US Army during D-Day invasion. He's still alive at 85 and driving.My father went in to the Army/Air Corp.(which became the Air Force) after WW2 ended and was in Photo-Recon through Korea and Vietnam. Unfortunately he died of "Agent Orange" related illness age 67. My uncle lives in Canada where he regular lunches with a veteran from Canada, and a veteran of the German Army. Thanks to all our Veterans. Hairy Larry

Geordie J. said...

My old man was in a "blue ensign" tanker in the merchant navy (i.e. with Royal Navy officers), supplying fuel to RN warships in Scapa Flow and in the Faroes. Exciting times, no doubt - of which he spoke not a lot!

Geordie J. said...

Uncles Willie, Jerry, Albert and Geordie (after whom I'm called) in RAF Catalinas, army, and merchant navy (many, many Shetlanders were at sea) respectively. Geordie lost his life in SS Dalblair in the North Atlantic. Horrible times!

Mrs BC said...

You also got your common sense from your Grandad. He was a rock this family is built on.

Also I would like to thank everyone past and present who made the greatest sacrifices for our freedom. It's fantastic to see we seem to have started our own tribute page. Thanks for the lovely comments guys!

Mrs. B.C.

Bodger said...

Nearly forgot, my English Grandpa was in the Royal Artillery in either Gibralter or China during WWII, forget which one.

Gorgeous Biker Chick said...

Hey BigBob, where ya been? We were talking about you the other day too....hope all is well over yonder.

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