Did any of your relations fight in either of the world wars?

Nope. My Great Granda was too young for WW1 and too old for WW2, my Granda was too young for WW2 but did do national service.

 

My great granda was a commando during ww2. Same one who I posted a thread about the European cup final fan footage he took. He got about haha

 

1 uncle was in the merchant navy and done the convoys to Russia. another uncle was at normandy, both survived.
my mates da was captured at Dunkirk, him and 3 mates where in a barn stealing eggs when a german came (yes, 1 german. a solitary soldier) in, and they all surrendered. he spent the rest of the war as a POW. when we asked him how could 4 of them surrender to one german he always said ''because he had a big dug''
but I honestly believe they where so beaten they had no fight left in them.

 

Yes, On my Mums side I have various relatives who fought and died in both wars. My Grandad also fought the Japanese and that seems to have been 'worse' than the Germans. He was originally in the tank regiment.
On my Dads side, there was a couple, one was disowned by his immediate family, he was my Dads uncle from the little I know he was highly decorated by the end of the war (WW2) and served in the LRDG, seemingly. Its something I do want to try and find out more about before its to late.

 

Great Uncle joined the RNZAF in 1940, shipped out to train in Montreal, Canada, before being posted back to England where he spent the next 9 months. Then flew out to Egypt to join No. 37 Squadron, he was a front-gunner on Wellington bombers. Took part in the operational tour of 30 bombing missions in the North African campaign, mainly around Libya. Then volunteered to go to Burma but was asked to go to India instead. Everyone who went out to Burma ended up getting shot down there.

He then spent 20 months in India helping to train up paratroops before being transferred to Ferry Command, which involved delivering various aircraft to squadrons in India, Pakistan and Bahrain. Came home in June 44' and got married in November of that year. Went back to his job at the local paper, he joined in 35' as a 'dog's body' before being taken on as an apprentice compositor/machinist, eventually working his way up as a copy holder, proof reader, junior then senior reporter, then after the war editor, works manager, general manager and eventually company director. He died in 1980 aged 63.

Another Great Uncle joined the Army and saw action against the Japs in the Pacific theatre with the 3rd Division. Was stationed at New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Vella Lavella and Green Island. Returned home in August 44' having served 238 days 'NZ Service' and 474 days 'Overseas Service. Went back to his job at a Dairy Company, got married in 47' and died in 1983 aged 68.

On more Great Uncle from my Mum's side of the family joined the Divisional Cavalry Regiment of the 2nd Division, which was the country's first ever armoured unit. Fought in Egypt and Italy, returned safe and sound and lived till 91'.

 

It just costs £30 to get details of his military record.
I've done this for my wife.
Her father was in the RASC as a 2nd Lieutenant before being seconded to the RIASC and being promoted to WS Captain.
Got the Pacific Star and Burma Star.

 

aye, he was some guy. we used to take him out every sunday for a few pints at the carbeth inn and we would always slag him about surrendering to a big dug, but he always had a good laugh about it.

 

Episode where they go to his funeral is class, big Spitfire wreath eventually comes out and they realise they're at the wrong wake. Then the one where they go to France, every man in the village has a big white beard, no doubt passed down from Albert and his fraternising with the local madames.

 

Carbeth Inn, good wee shop that. Frequented by bikers if I remember right?

 

Geriatric village of the damned.

 

It is.
Went in there years ago during a bike run with a few mates.
Good time.

 

Both Great-Grandads fought in WWII, my grandad on the Irish side was in the Merchant Navy.

 

Yes great-grandfather fought in WWII.

 

Had a relative who died in the Holocaust. He tripped and fell into an oven at Auschwitz while on guard duty.

R.I.P Obersturmbannfuhrer HolyGoalie

 

Both my Grandads were too young for WWI, and too old for WWII ........... Although my paternal Grandad did try to sign up for WWI when underage, but his mother stormed into the recruiting office and dragged him home.

 

If I called you a * that would be an insult to the normal * that roam about. You are just an embarrassment.

 

Unfortunately he died when I was about 5 so I never really got to speak to him about it. I'm not sure he really spoke about the war tbh, but one story I know is that he got shot in the * when he was trying to drag an injured soldier to cover. So that's pretty cool

From the memories I have of I remember him being cool as * and tough as nails. Used to walk miles every day even up until he got unwell and sadly passed when he was 80 odds got the superbug and fought it off but contradicted meningitis while in hospital because they apparently weren't looking after him well enough. Probably fitter than I am just now haha. My gran always goes on about him but, he was her hero.

 

My Papa(Mom's father) served in England as an aircraft engineer with the RCAF, my Gigi(Dad's father) served as a halftrack driver with the Canadian army in France (I think). Not sure of the exact units or division's they were in as both of them passed away a number of years ago, although my mom's family does have some of his medals and pins from his service in Vancouver. Going out there this weekend actually so this was a good reminder to make sure I take a peek at them!