My dad over 100 years ago - NOT amateur radio

 

This was my dad over 100 years ago at Infants School. He is in the back row 4th from the right.

Dad's seats - NOT amateur radio

My dad died in 1987 after working for the water board in South Devon for a very long time. Before that he was a plumber and before that a Pathfinder in Lancasters in WW2. he rarely spoke of his war. I think he hated it.

Dad's seat - NOT amateur radio

One of my FaceBook memories for today was from 10 years ago with me on one of the seats in Devon in 2012. It was erected in memory of my dad who died in 1987. After he retired, he ran a job creation team for the National Trust.  The odd thing is if he walked in the door now, it would seem natural!

Dad - NOT amateur radio

Before now, I have mentioned that my dad was a Pathfinder flying Lancasters in WW2. I think he hated killing innocent people and this haunted him all his life. He died in his late 60s in 1987.

Today was his birthday and he would have been 102.

At the end of the war he dropped food over Holland and helped to bring prisoners of war home.

My dad 100 years ago - NOT amateur radio

This picture shows my dad almost 100 years ago. It looks posed for the cameraman. I think he was a sea scout, but I think this was later in his childhood.

Later, he became a Pathfinder in Lancasters flying at night in WW2 over Germany. He must have been terrified every night. One of my greatest regrets was not speaking with him about this before he died in 1987. I think he hated the war really.

Sea scout - NOT amateur radio

The photo here was taken almost 100 years ago and shows my dad in Salcombe, Devon, UK.

As someone pointed out, this could well be posted for the photographer! It does look posed.

My dad died in 1987.

Lancasters - NOT amateur radio

In WW2 my dad (he died in 1987) was a flight engineer in a Pathfinder Squadron flying Lancasters. He rarely wanted to talk about his war, but looking back he must have been so brave and so scared.

Today my wife took our younger son and one of our grandsons to see the Lancaster, and other planes, at Duxford. The photo shows 3 generations: my dad, our son, and one of our grandsons.

Dad's seat - NOT amateur radio

My dad died in 1987. In his last years, he worked for the National Trust running a job creation scheme with young people maintaining the South West Coastal Path.

He loved this part of Devon and when he died they erected a couple of seats in his honour.

This picture was taken a few years ago and shows me sitting on one of them on Bolberry Down.

Dad - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday would have been my dad's birthday. He would have been 98 although sadly he died in his late 60s in 1987 from a heart attack. I can't imagine him being 98. He died young but he was otherwise healthy to his end.

I regret not speaking to him about his Pathfinder years in the RAF. There were brave young men on both sides in WW2. Dad did not like to speak about those days. Looking back he was very very brave.

The war years impacted him greatly and he was happy not to be reminded of them. The funny thing is if he walked in the door now it would seem so natural. There is so much I'd want to talk with him about.

If your parents are still alive ask them the questions before it is too late.