Slightly Sentimental Story Alert!
My Grandfather died when my Dad was eight, meaning (of course) that I never met him. A few years ago, I was going through some old bits in my Dads flat, and came across some small discs of what looked like copper and bronze, perhaps only centimetre or so in diameter. Attached to each of these was a small piece of ribbon and a pin. Due to many many years of neglect, each item was discoloured and unloved.

Asking my Dad what these were, he said “oh, they’re your Grandfather’s war medals”.

This was news to me: that side of the family is Danish and didn’t fight during the war being as they were occupied. It turned out that my Grandfather had been an active member of the Danish resistance, and had received these medals (which explains their size, I suppose) from his contemporaries. On the day that I found them, my Dad gifted them to me as an early inheritance.

I have since cleaned them, mounted them and framed them, and keep them safely locked away to pass down if ever I am foolhardy enough to have children myself. Sadly, the story of what my Grandfather did to be given those medals has been lost to time and, sadly, a few deaths, but they preserve the memory, for me, of a man who was proud and stood up in defence of his country. I am honoured to have been named after him.

And that is what I would save from the fire first.

(Apols for lack of funny!)

EDIT: I don't mean that my family were 'otherwise occupied' during the war, of course. That'd be just silly. ;)
( Devil_In_Tights the *real* DiT!, Thu 8 May 2008, 13:12, 2 replies)

I can't believe...
...that this hasn't had any replies.

Half of my family were German 'traitors' from Dusseldorf, Celle and Frankfurt who helped airmen, soldiers, Jews, intellectuals and other 'undesirables' get out of danger into Spain or Russia.

There are certain modern 'liberals' who don't like to acknowledge the courage displayed during those days. There are even those who suggest that medals earned in war are obscenities. But anyone who resisted the tyranny of the Occupation has my vote and your continued respect of your grandfather has my respect in turn.

I'll, er, get off my high horse now. This just tweaked a nerve.
(Guizmeaux, Thu 8 May 2008, 19:03, closed)

*Click*
*Sniff*.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Fri 9 May 2008, 11:05, closed)