65 years ago today - Page 3 - British Comedy Guide

zooo

Sunday 7th June 2009 1:34am

69,752 posts

*tries not to make bad joke about writing and one arm*

I know all my grandads fought in wars, but I never got to talk to them about it.

Loopey

Sunday 7th June 2009 2:07pm

Fairyland

2,635 posts

My Dad was a motorbike messenger too. My son did a school project about him while he was alive, but suffering from dementia. My brother did further research after he died, so we do have a pretty good record which is a mix of humour, horror and heroics. My son was told that his project was as important to history as any official book, mainly because of the personal side.

One of the stories I like is that his mother taught him to darn socks and he would earn favours by darning the socks of other soldiers. Some of them just stole his though.

We found out he was also involved in 'Operation Market Garden' which was featured in the film 'A Bridge Too Far.'

I watched it for the first time shortly after my Dad died and cried all the way through. Haven't been able to watch it since.

He was a very quiet and humble man who locked his medals away because he 'wasn't proud of them.' I didn't see them until I was about 16.

I am very proud of him and miss him terribly. RIP Dad (1920 - 2007).

Aaron

Sunday 7th June 2009 5:00pm [Edited]

Royal Berkshire

69,949 posts

Quote: Maurice Minor @ June 6 2009, 7:53 PM BST
Brown even got booed by octagenarian war veterans! When will he take the hint?

View original

That was the highlight of my year.

Well, apart from licking zooo.

Quote: Loopey @ June 6 2009, 8:59 PM BST
I think it is important to rememember and respect those who were involved.

View original

Pity the frogs don't agree with you.

Quote: catskillz @ June 6 2009, 10:15 PM BST
My Great Uncle joined the T.A. when he'd just turned 18, in 1939, and was called up for service not long after. He went away with a head full of curly hair, and when he returned home years later, his mum didn't even recognise him, as all his hair had fallen out.

He wasn't part of the D-Day landings, in fact he wasn't even in Europe, but I'll tell you about him anyway. He was a dispatch rider, in the Desert. He used to tell me all sorts of stories, e.g. I remember him describing locals sneaking into his tent, in the middle of the night, with knives between their teeth, looking for stuff to steal. Also, one time he was riding across the desert, and he found another dispatch rider, whose bike had broken down, and whose water supply was running low, and he rescued him. I met the man he rescued, when I was about 9, as I'd become friends with his Grandson, purely by chance.

The last time I saw my Great uncle, a couple of years ago, I told him he should write about his experience, but he died soon after.

View original

Talking of the desert, my uncle actually went to Israel after the war as part of the peace-keeping or whatever it was. He said that that was FAR more scary than anything he'd experienced during WWII. The Israeli women wouldn't have thought twice before stabbing you in the back (literally).

Quote: Loopey @ June 7 2009, 11:07 AM BST
One of the stories I like is that his mother taught him to darn socks and he would earn favours by darning the socks of other soldiers.

View original

Kinky.