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15 October 2014
WW2 - People's War

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Service in Two World Wars.

by mikeprince

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Contributed by 
mikeprince
People in story: 
Charles Prince
Location of story: 
Mons, Gallipoly, Egypt and India
Background to story: 
Army
Article ID: 
A2094545
Contributed on: 
30 November 2003

This story is of my paternal family involvement in both World Wars.
My Grandfather Charles Prince was a regular soldier in August 1914 as was his older brother Frederick. Frederick was reported missing presumed killed in action in August 1914 and is listed with no known grave.
Charles landed at Gallipoly in 1915 and having survived the experience he was sent to Egypt for rest and recuperation. He was awarded a Mention In Despatches, I think for a deed whilst in Gallipoly but no records seem to exist of the deed itself.
Charles or Charlie as he was known served the rest of WW1 in the Middle East theatre.
Between the wars Charlie joined the Fire Service and was inducted into the Auxilliary Fire Service (AFS) early in WW2.
By 1942 when the worst of the Blitz was over he was selected or volunteered (it's not clear which), for AFS service in India where it was anticipated that large scale bombing would follow the Japanese declaration of war.
The expected onslaught never came but Charlie stayed in India until late 1944.
I have all his papers concerning this time from his joining instructions including the terms of his contract and the pass to allow him into restricted areas of Liverpool docks to join the transport vessel. The papers follow his postings around India and even include minutes of a meeting complaining about conditions!
The papers only came to light after the death of my fathers younger brother and have opened up for me a completely new aspect of my grandfathers life and war service. The papers bring to life something of the feeling of the uncertainty of those times.

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