The tally of soldiers dying in Afghanistan and Iraq is raising, a strong anti war movement is building in Britain.  I recently wrote an article about the recent conflicts and my personal feelings. This and seeing families on T.V. in mourning.  It got me thinking about an ordinary family in-fact my own, and the fact that war never seems far away.

As a child being interested in things military i questioned all my relatives about their service or recollections of war.

My great grandad Mr G.W. Banks served in the trenches during WW1 with the Middlesex Regiment, he was in the infantry a foot soldier if you will.  He was awarded 3 medals during the war, I am now the proud owner of these medals being handed down to me through time, they take pride of place on my mantle piece.  I’m afraid I don’t have any personal accounts of his heroism as he passed away before I was born, but just the fact he survived in service from 1914 to 1919 is testament enough for anyone.

My uncle “Fred” Mr Fredrick Webber served in WW1 also in the Artillery, he remained partially deaf until he died courtesy of no ear defenders being issued them.  He only passed away not long ago in a retirement home on the south coast of Britain.

My Grandfather Mr Lawrence victor Banks [where i inherited my middle name from] he was born in 1902, which meant he was too young for WW1 and too old for WW2.  He was however in the Local defence Volunteers with the rank of Sergeant, the organisation was nicked named “Dads army” I’m sure most people have seen the popular sit com and spin off film of the same name.  The volunteers actually took their work very seriously.

My Grandfather had 2 sons, My father Donald Lawrence Banks and my uncle Christopher Banks .My father Donald was too young [15] at the outbreak of WW2 to serve but once he reached 17 he applied to the R.A.F. the Navy and the Army.  He was in the middle of a tool makers apprenticeship and was deemed to have a reserved occupation [much to my fathers dismay he wanted to serve] Now my uncle Christopher was excepted into the Navy and after his training he was assigned to an M.T.B. [Motor torpedo boat] his job was to patrol the English channel for German warships, downed airman etc.  Unfortunately his M.T.B. hit a mine and the boat was blown in 2 with the loss of most hands.  My uncle was one of the few who survived, he was invalided out of the Navy with a serious leg wound, he walked with a limp for the rest of his days.

My father Donald was accepted into the R.A.F. at the close of WW2 when his job was no longer classified as a reserved occupation. He served for many years and i have a nice picture on display of him in his uniform. 

My mother remembers clearly the London blitz the constant stream of German night bombers trying to pound London into submission, however the London spirit held true.  She cannot recount the Blitz for long as she still gets a tear in her eye and cant speak.

War seems to touch most of us or our families whom ever we are. I do hope we can bring our boys back before another ordinary families history is so full of brave souls.