A big thanks to Richard Broadhead for putting on the excellent World War One exhibition at Trowbridge Library. My uncle Walter, who died at Paschendaele in 1917, is one of the many men featured. The story has been passed down in my family how my Gran, where they lived at Southwick, would never lock her door as she always believed that Walter would one day return home.
My dad, Bert Jones, brother to Walter, also served in the war, and was a founder member of the RAF, previously being in the Royal Flying Corps. He didn’t say much about his service days, but we do know he had the very dangerous job of loading bombs under the wings of aircraft going on raids over Germany and at one time was seriously injured.
When eventually he moved into Trowbridge we lived only a few doors away from his Commanding Officer from when they were based in Suffolk. He had also moved to the area, and again was my dad's senior officer as they served together, this time as ARP wardens in World War Two.
Many families share such memories and times of remembrance, such as at the Cenotaph in London, and those around town and village memorials, along with exhibitions such as at County Hall, are therefore increasingly becoming more important.
Stanley H Jones, Horse Road, Hilperton Marsh.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here