"Dad joined the Royal Navy in April 1944 as a volunteer until 'end of present emergency' (wording on MoD war record). He was on Russian convoys until end of hostilities and spent 6 months in Russia after being injured when his ship was sunk. We found this out when my nephew joined the armed forces 3 years ago. Apparently the army search all your family records who have been in the forces and they turned this up. He never mentioned this to anyone including my mother. Just after the war he was again on a ship (HMS Saumarez - pictured)  that was sunk by a rogue mine between Corfu and the albanian coast.

 

"After the war he married mother and after a couple of jobs went to work in Birmingham wholesale markets with W. D. Richards on fruit and veg then for Marshalls poultry.  The market was his life and he was known and respected by customers and colleagues alike. Early mornings every day all his adult life . He stayed with Bob Marshall until Bob retired and sold up.  Dad took early retirement and looked forward to enjoying life more but took ill and spent the next two years fighting serious illness a fight he sadly lost in 1990. 

"I used to go to work with him as a young lad especially at xmas when he was at his busiest. A funny memory that stays with me was sitting in the fridge because it was warmer than  being outside  in the bitter cold and feeling drip drip on my head. It was the blood from all the xmas turkeys hanging above me. Dad died young but thankfully saw both of my children and my sister's son. Five children six grandchildren and one great grandchild are his legacy. Mom reigns over all of us still showing great energy and zest for life."