A Brother's War

I'm writing this on behalf of my Dad, Allan McLachlan, who sadly has had a stroke and cannot relay his story himself. Not that Dad would ever have discussed what happened to him in the war with Mum and I. However, his younger brother, Ewen, has told me a little about what happened to him.

His story is not remarkable by any means compared to most experiences, but I would like to have it recorded somewhere.

Dad was born in 1920 in a croft the Highlands of Scotland. He had two brothers and judging from the tales he tells, at times living was hard for them. Dad and his brother, David, joined a Highland Regiment (Cameron Highlanders I think)and they were both sent to France.

They were later caught up in the fighting around Dunkirk and the officer in charge sent David and other men to take out a machine gun dugout. When the men did not return Dad volunteered to go and find out what happened to his brother. He spent sometime searching under fire and before he could find him he got hit himself by schrapnel on the back of his head (his helmet saved him although he had terrible scars to his neck)and by a bullet to the knee.

He was taken to a field hospital and later sent up the line to Dunkirk awaiting a ship home. He managed to get the very last hospital ship home (the one previously was sunk and with a huge loss of life).

Once he recovered from his injuries he went into REME for the rest of the war.

I don't think they ever found David's body and Dad has never visited his gravestone, as he swore he would never visit France again.

When it was time for his younger brother, Ewen, to be called up, he heeded Dad's words - don't join the bl**dy Army. He became a navigator doing tours in North Africa and the Far East.

The Army has been very helpful and supportive to Dad in his later years, particularly when he had his stroke, and I am most grateful to them.

Dad was very 'lucky' to have survived the war and to get home when he did, thanks to the brave efforts of the medics and sailors and volunteers who went to Dunkirk.

So this is Dad's small story but it means a great deal to our family.

Ann McLachlan
Daughter

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