Soldier Record

A man of dignity and pride who carried his war experiences all his life stoically and secretly

My grandfather never said much about his war - just the bare facts! He was first sent out to Egypt for training and aclimatisation. This is what he spoke of most - the exotic difference from the back streets of Salford, visiting the pyramids and sphinx. He was then sent on the 2nd wave of landings at Gallipoli and barely got off the beachhead. He was proud of being part of the "6 VC`s before breakfast" Lancashire Fusiliers assault. He was wounded and lost a lung and suffered from emphazema for the rest of his life. He was sent back to Alexandria and was then ultimately sent with Allenby into Palestine and was "gratified" that he had had the chance to visit Jeruseleum and Bethlehem. He was eventually invalided out, returned home, married, raised a family and became Inspector of HM Taxes! He was an air raid warden in the 2nd war. He never went abroard again and never spoke of his war experiences to me or anyone else in the family. He often went to the Fusiliers reunion in Bury for the gallipoli dinner and took out his medals for the only time. One particular memory i have though is on the death of Winston Churchill in 1966(?) - a lifelong Tory, churchgoer and patriot i heard him; the only time ever; swear on hearing the news "thank god i`ve seen that bast**d out!"