Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The story of World War Two veteran Percy Chafer and his cousin Fred Stredder is a tale of chance meetings, imprisonment, and resilience. After years of wondering what happened to his cousin during the war, Percy finally uncovered more details about Fred’s time as a prisoner of war thanks to records at The National Archives. Now, on Remembrance Sunday, Percy’s family hopes their experience will encourage others to share their own stories – to ensure their memories never die.
Percy landed on Sword Beach with the 7th Armoured Division of the British Army, while Fred was a prisoner of war who had escaped before being recaptured. When the cousins met in Egypt by chance during the war, it was a moment of joy before news came that Fred was missing, and later found out to be a prisoner of war. When Fred eventually returned home, he was a shadow of his former self, having lost eight stone.
For many years, Percy did not want to discuss the trauma of the war, but he opened up to his family about Fred’s story after his return. The family discovered more about Fred’s time as a prisoner of war through records, including a card which gave all the information about Fred’s time in captivity, his army and prisoner of war numbers, and even his thumbprint. It is believed that Fred may have taken part in the brutal Long March towards the end of the war.
Fred’s daughter Jacqueline Astell said the information helped her understand her father’s journey from soldier to the man she knew. Percy remarked that by sharing the stories of those who fought, “it keeps things alive…never forget them.” Percy passed away peacefully at home in October at the age of 104, and the stories of him and Fred will live on
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.