My Father

On this summers day with such an abundance of roses surviving the rains of Friday, my thoughts went to the time my father retired and so enjoyed his garden .

He was a sergeant major in the Royal Artillery and was away as a TA soldier from 1939 to 1946. I was just 2 when he left and did not know him until his return after demob day . He fought the Japanese in India and Burma with the Chindits and wore the famous bush hat .

Looking through some of my boxes etc, I came across his dog tags again. As seen.

They gave the information of surname, religion and army number . At death in action etc, the second tag was sent to HQ and the other placed in the mouth of the dead soldier. So much history in such a little object.

Today we are meeting as a family for lunch and I will be passing the dog tags over to my younger brother Bill. Along with my dad's banjolele which he played in the 20/30's .

Memories . So many of them . A super father for sure .

Ralph Warburton