WW2 Family stories
My old chap is exactly that - quite old (74)... But he was the youngest of five by some margin. I caught up with him a couple of weeks ago and he told me more about what his elder brothers did in the war.

Uncle John - Captured by the Japanese at Singapore in 1941. Survived four years of Japanese hospitality being used as slave labour building a railway in Burma - later used as inspiration for "Bridge over the River Qwai".

Uncle Bert - Ran away at 16 after hearing that John was "missing" at Singapore. Spent four years in Burma as a gunner serving with the Gurkhas.

Uncle Frank - A test pilot in the RAF. Later assigned to liaise with De Havilland Aircraft.

John is alive, well and extremely cantankerous today despite his ordeal. Bert passed away in 1992, apparently I will be the custodian of his medals and war memorabilia one day. He was a very nice man indeed, with a gentle sense of humour and remains much missed.

Frank was the surprise. I knew he was in the RAF, but had no idea what his capacity was. That came as a pleasant surprise. Apparently Frank had a habit of going AWOL and being caught weeks later en route to Burma, determined to free his brother from captivity. Upon leaving the RAF, Frank emigrated to Australia, found god and became a lay priest. He soon married a Finnish spiritualist and lived happily ever after before renouncing his faith and embracing atheism a couple of years before he died in 1994.

My Dad himself had two narrow escapes during the blitz, first time round his school was bombed by the Luftwaffe during his lunch hour - he was one of the few who went home during lunchtime. Second time round he was walking along a busy street when it was strafed by a couple of Messerschmitt 109s.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Fri 20 Jun 2008, 0:03, Reply)