Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Bizman on October 22, 2011, 03:56:28 PM
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A couple of days ago my mother called me that his brother had just died, at the age of 86. He belonged to the last age-class to be put to front. Although his war didn't last long, he was somewhere over there long enough to get wounded, at least once if not twice. He carried Russian shrapnel in his body for the rest of his life, causing constant discomfort, but despite all hardship he built a cottage for his family, raised two daughters and worked until state pension age. During his last years, especially after being widowed, he would have liked to move to the local veteran's fraternity home where he had occasionally been treated, but his invalidity percentage was a couple of units too low until his leg was amputated due to his weak heart which couldn't pump blood down there. Thus he literally had one foot in the grave...
My uncle was clear minded till the very end. He lived long enough to see his newborn great-grandson, posing for a photo with him.
He was no war hero, just a regular infantry soldier helping to keep his country independent. After the war he helped to rebuild his fatherland. He tried hard not to show his suffering. When still living in his home, he was very upset if he couldn't dress up, make his bed and make coffee before the nurses came to help him in daily routines. The same heartiness was significant also with children, he always tried to amuse the smallest ones with a warm twinkle in his eyes. I think that kind of heroes are the most respectable ones.
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Much respect, I know what the finn soldiers went through.
My granddad was estonian university student, served in gulag camp, soviet penal battallion and later as volunteer in the german ranks...
My condolences and althought I don't know how you feel the loss, I certainly can relate.
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:cheers: Oz
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Nutz
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:salute to your uncle sir
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The funeral was yesterday, thank you all for condolences. :salute
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<S>
I am glad Finland kept its independence.
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I've no words that will ease your pain Biz, but am here if you need me.
Wurz
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:salute Gone! but never forgotten. My condolences. :salute
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Gone! but never forgotten.
QFT and emphasis. :salute
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RIP :salute
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In his honor we should do a snap shot of defending Finland, Brewsters via commie birds. Should be easy enough.
I find it interesting to hear stories of veterans from other countries. Over the years I've met many US Vets but only one foreign Vet.
Boo
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:salute to your Uncle..
its amazing how that generation took to the call
your family have my condolencies
as a side note I found this out about my step grandfather today. never knew any of it, its not a hijack here
just a salute to a brave generation of men that did what they had to..
just found this out about my Grandmothers second husband...
At the outbreak of war, Bailey, then living in South Africa, joined the South African Irish Regiment but, following a bout of malaria, transferred in late 1940 to the South African Air Force (SAAF). In August 1943 he joined No 223 Squadron of the RAF, which had just moved to an advanced landing ground in Sicily and was operating the American-built Baltimore medium bomber.
From Sicily, Bailey flew many sorties during an intensive period of operations against troop concentrations and gun positions. During September he flew bombing operations in support of the Allied landings at Salerno. When the squadron left for the Italian mainland Bailey had his first sight of the German-held fortress at Monte Cassino the following month.
As the number of Bailey's operations mounted, he was appointed to be a formation leader and regularly led 12 aircraft against German lines of communications, railway marshalling yards and ammunition and supply depots. On a few occasions, he led his men in attacks on targets in Yugoslavia but the main priority remained the support of the Allied armies as they advanced up Italy.
Bailey flew more than 50 operational bombing sorties throughout the Italian campaign and was awarded the DFC. The citation commented on his "marked enthusiasm and outstanding ability as a formation leader on a large number of operations against much adverse weather conditions and enemy opposition".
I knew him fairly well, and knew he had interests in planes, he started an airline to the channel Islands,..never knew any of this though...
I found it fascinating and thought I would share
also his mum flew single handed London to capetown AND Back !!
"Dame Mary Bailey, a famous British aviatrix of her time who in 1928-1929 was the first woman to fly, in her de Havilland Moth, from London to Cape Town and back. "
Not blood of mine but my Gran found a corker..
Side note....He also played cricket and captained Gloucestershire!
From 1948 he began playing cricket as a middle order batsman and medium-pace bowler for Gloucestershire's second XI in the minor counties championship, having come to the attention of the bowler Tom Goddard during a friendly match.
From 1949 to 1952 he played 60 first-class matches for the county, scoring 2,029 runs with two centuries at an average of 24.44. At the end of the 1950 season, Gloucestershire's captain Basil Allen retired, and Bailey was appointed as his successor for the 1951 season.
<<S>> Sir Derrick Bailey DFC
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