Spent some time with my mum today watching the VE march on TV and had a really good chat. Her dad was a soldier and served with the army before WW2. At the start of war he was sent to fight in Europe and was one of the many soldiers trapped at Dunkirk. He was injured during the evacuation from the beach and when he was back in the UK in hospital they discovered he had also got TB. He never recovered and after years of illness died in 1950.
We also talked about how hard the war was for her mum (my Gran). At the start of the war she had 4 children and the youngest, my mum, was only 12 months old. Gran's husband was already serving overseas and after a brief visit home was sent off to fight in Europe. After Grandad got injured and evacuated at Dunkirk he spent years in hospitals and sanitoriums because of his injuries and that while he was in the army he got TB. Midway through the war Gran's eldest son turned 18 and joined the navy. He was on a ship that was hit by a U-boat. He survived and continued to serve throughout the war but he had lasting hearing impairment. My gran kept her family together in Manchester throughout the war despite the bombing and supported her husband and son throughout and afterwards. She raised her younger children and took on as much work as she could to keep them fed and protected.
We talk about war heroes and focus on those who were part of the armed services. We also need to remember the war effort from those at home too. Sadly my gran died when I was only 2 so I never got to know her. All my older relatives talk about her with fondness and also awe. She was clearly a very strong and inspirational woman. She loved fiercely and looked after her family during the toughest of times. She also served her country well and fought as hard as any frontline soldier.
I already knew the stories but it was important for mum to remember it today and for her to think about her dad and her mum. I was glad to share this special time with her.
Macha /
npub16t…9kt5s
2025-05-05 18:50:52
Author Public Key
npub16t36zxy2tzxwh6mv4l8p3xteup7snx5assm5k9pcvkvtjfxghcuq59kt5sPublished at
2025-05-05 18:50:52Event JSON
{
"id": "a11363430c2dfdedecbc69432364feb757d96e93d80b24846aba8c1ad170c098",
"pubkey": "d2e3a1188a588cebeb6cafce189979e07d099a9d84374b14386598b924c8be38",
"created_at": 1746471052,
"kind": 1,
"tags": [
[
"proxy",
"https://spinster.xyz/objects/bff36350-9015-4df3-b083-d8e2979374df",
"activitypub"
],
[
"client",
"Mostr",
"31990:6be38f8c63df7dbf84db7ec4a6e6fbbd8d19dca3b980efad18585c46f04b26f9:mostr",
"wss://relay.mostr.pub"
]
],
"content": "Spent some time with my mum today watching the VE march on TV and had a really good chat. Her dad was a soldier and served with the army before WW2. At the start of war he was sent to fight in Europe and was one of the many soldiers trapped at Dunkirk. He was injured during the evacuation from the beach and when he was back in the UK in hospital they discovered he had also got TB. He never recovered and after years of illness died in 1950.\n\nWe also talked about how hard the war was for her mum (my Gran). At the start of the war she had 4 children and the youngest, my mum, was only 12 months old. Gran's husband was already serving overseas and after a brief visit home was sent off to fight in Europe. After Grandad got injured and evacuated at Dunkirk he spent years in hospitals and sanitoriums because of his injuries and that while he was in the army he got TB. Midway through the war Gran's eldest son turned 18 and joined the navy. He was on a ship that was hit by a U-boat. He survived and continued to serve throughout the war but he had lasting hearing impairment. My gran kept her family together in Manchester throughout the war despite the bombing and supported her husband and son throughout and afterwards. She raised her younger children and took on as much work as she could to keep them fed and protected.\n\nWe talk about war heroes and focus on those who were part of the armed services. We also need to remember the war effort from those at home too. Sadly my gran died when I was only 2 so I never got to know her. All my older relatives talk about her with fondness and also awe. She was clearly a very strong and inspirational woman. She loved fiercely and looked after her family during the toughest of times. She also served her country well and fought as hard as any frontline soldier.\n\nI already knew the stories but it was important for mum to remember it today and for her to think about her dad and her mum. I was glad to share this special time with her.",
"sig": "78de589ddbba91ac5295d25a88d10d711656c3f364a6497f795c1817931ab625831aae8e54da4a2822961b07cdbb39820f866e5e002badd9eb091470ab10938b"
}