Grandad just passed...a WW2 Veteran who fought at Arnhem
07 April 2013, 09:51 PM
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Grandad just passed...a WW2 Veteran who fought at Arnhem
My Grandad Jack died last week....sad times for the whole family 
A real WW2 veteran that Hollywood could have made a dozen films about...he really was one of the last standing men that fought at Arnhem (a bridge to far).
He actually led last year's Manchester Remembrance Parade and will be sadly missed. The MEN featured a full page article on his life on the inner pages...he fought for so long at so many different battles its hard to believe.
The funeral is on Thursday and is set to have a big military presence
Tissues at the ready I reckon
RIP Grandad, see you on the other side
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....rr-one-2522303
A real WW2 veteran that Hollywood could have made a dozen films about...he really was one of the last standing men that fought at Arnhem (a bridge to far).
He actually led last year's Manchester Remembrance Parade and will be sadly missed. The MEN featured a full page article on his life on the inner pages...he fought for so long at so many different battles its hard to believe.
The funeral is on Thursday and is set to have a big military presence
Tissues at the ready I reckon
RIP Grandad, see you on the other side
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....rr-one-2522303
07 April 2013, 10:04 PM
#4
Sorry to hear that, my grandad is 92 and isnt in the best of health, he was a signalman on Corvettes adn Minesweepers, he is losing his sight and mobility, so sad to see him like that.
07 April 2013, 10:13 PM
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Jacko - a sad state of affairs seeing someone lose their dignity and independence...especially after all they have experienced 
I was round at the house a few days before he passed... he was really bad and we all knew he didn't have long to go before he died.
My auntie managed to procure a special bed (the base constantly moves to prevent back soars) and my brother managed to shave him whilst he was asleep
Proper made me well up tho
I was round at the house a few days before he passed... he was really bad and we all knew he didn't have long to go before he died.
My auntie managed to procure a special bed (the base constantly moves to prevent back soars) and my brother managed to shave him whilst he was asleep
Proper made me well up tho
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07 April 2013, 10:18 PM
#8
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Sad That He Has Gone, But his Memory Will Go On, My uncle Is Still Enjoying His Red Wine And Raising A Glass To His Comrades At 93 He Was At Biggin Hill At The Pivotal Moment And Only Survived As His Best friend Took A Bomb Blast As They Entered A Shelter.
07 April 2013, 10:20 PM
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Sorry to hear that pal. It fascinates me how bravely these people fought so we have the freedom to make the choices we make and f&ck about in fast cars. Lived in Wythenshawe for years. Shows that it is still a place with something to be proud of despite all you hear. All the best
07 April 2013, 10:36 PM
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Cityboy1 - Too right mate..it gets a bad rap but all those that live here know its sound
I'm just near the Benchill conny club near crossacres school (I go for a few scoops there for the city matches) where about's are u??
I'm just near the Benchill conny club near crossacres school (I go for a few scoops there for the city matches) where about's are u??
07 April 2013, 10:50 PM
#14
Did the Arnhem battlefield tour a few years ago. The locals where brilliant and could not do enough. The children help to maintain the war graves.
Our guide actually fought at the battle and married a local and stayed behind. He only had one hand, his right hand was a prosthetic and he would wedge his *** between the fingers. We asked why he came back and lived there. He said it was because most of his mates where buried there.
Respect tp them all.
Our guide actually fought at the battle and married a local and stayed behind. He only had one hand, his right hand was a prosthetic and he would wedge his *** between the fingers. We asked why he came back and lived there. He said it was because most of his mates where buried there.
Respect tp them all.
07 April 2013, 11:44 PM
#15
Sorry to hear that......
My dad decided at 15 he didn't want to go down the mines (born in Houghton-le-Spring) so lied and joined up, went to war in the Western desert, stepped of a landing craft at salerno and went up Italy. Ended up in a POW camp in Dusseldorf.
Never really mentioned it as everybody did the same thing.....
My Hero
Shaun
My dad decided at 15 he didn't want to go down the mines (born in Houghton-le-Spring) so lied and joined up, went to war in the Western desert, stepped of a landing craft at salerno and went up Italy. Ended up in a POW camp in Dusseldorf.
Never really mentioned it as everybody did the same thing.....
My Hero
Shaun
Last edited by Midlife......; 07 April 2013 at 11:45 PM.
08 April 2013, 06:23 AM
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I'm saddened by your loss, but like others have said, eternally grateful to all the brave men and women who fought (and still fight) to keep us free.
The other thing this makes me think. I remember a very old man who lived opposite us when I was only a few years old in the 1960s. He'd fought 'in the war', but mentioned his uniform was a red coat. That must have been the Boer War at the latest. Now it's the last veterans of WW2. Time passes so quickly.
The other thing this makes me think. I remember a very old man who lived opposite us when I was only a few years old in the 1960s. He'd fought 'in the war', but mentioned his uniform was a red coat. That must have been the Boer War at the latest. Now it's the last veterans of WW2. Time passes so quickly.
09 April 2013, 08:41 PM
#22
Sorry for your loss. One of my uncles was killed at Arnhem. He was a glider pilot and he and the troops in his glider died when their aircraft was shot down. I wasn't born then so of course never knew him. Great respect to all who fought or died there.
Last edited by Paben; 09 April 2013 at 08:42 PM.
09 April 2013, 09:19 PM
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I'm more of a st Anthony's man myself or the tatton if I'm feeling flush
Condolences to all of you
09 April 2013, 09:28 PM
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Speedmonkey, By heartfelt commiserations. There are lots of grandchildren and indeed children who will never know what their Grandad went through because most of them never talked about it. Be proud when you say goodbye. RIP
10 April 2013, 12:35 AM
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RIP Jack.
It's a shame that the vast majority of people these days don't realise what folk like your grandad gave to ensure the the freedom of this country.
It's a shame that the vast majority of people these days don't realise what folk like your grandad gave to ensure the the freedom of this country.
Last edited by Peedee; 10 April 2013 at 12:36 AM.
10 April 2013, 05:45 AM
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RIP
where would we be without people like this.
My grandfather passed '05. He spent war on the Clyde testing mines for the admiralty , with various warships
where would we be without people like this.
My grandfather passed '05. He spent war on the Clyde testing mines for the admiralty , with various warships
Last edited by dpb; 10 April 2013 at 05:51 AM.
10 April 2013, 09:10 AM
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my old fella, did his national service,
he can remember the barrage balloons in the streets of manchester and bombs falling on his school, (which was built on a graveyard in hulme,
it made playtime very interesting with all the bones all over the place,
he was evacuated to preston and my mum to middlewich, both were mistreated and ended up coming back home,
my dad in particular, they wouldn't let him and his cousin in the house, not even at tea time.
my Nana found where he was and bashed the farmers wife and brought them back home.
"here you go alan, heres your reward" cancer!
he can remember the barrage balloons in the streets of manchester and bombs falling on his school, (which was built on a graveyard in hulme,
it made playtime very interesting with all the bones all over the place,
he was evacuated to preston and my mum to middlewich, both were mistreated and ended up coming back home,
my dad in particular, they wouldn't let him and his cousin in the house, not even at tea time.
my Nana found where he was and bashed the farmers wife and brought them back home.
"here you go alan, heres your reward" cancer!
10 April 2013, 10:13 PM
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RIP
My Grandad was also at Arnhem, i have the para wings locked away. He was shot 3 times during WW2, we all owe a very large debt of gratitude to these men & women.
My Grandad was also at Arnhem, i have the para wings locked away. He was shot 3 times during WW2, we all owe a very large debt of gratitude to these men & women.