REMEMBERING MRS. HCB'S GRANDFATHER ON HIS BIRTHDAY

Hello Lovely Blippers,

We got very excited when we heard Mrs. HCB saying to Mr. HCB that today was her Grandad’s birthday, because we thought there would be a big party.  What we didn’t realise was that Alfred had died way back in 1976 so there wouldn’t be a party.  However, to make up for it, she said we could have some Ritz crackers and crisps, because she remembered that her Grandad used to love having a packet of crisps with his pint of beer!  Mind you, don’t know what he would make of flavoured crisps - but we put the big pack of Steak, Ale and Caramelised Onion ones nearest to his photograph!  We are sure that Admirer would have smiled to see this.

We think we would have got on well with Alfred, because he was obviously a very adventurous young lad and you all know how we love to have adventures.  He was born in what is known as the Railway Village in Swindon on 16th November 1899, so today would have been 125 years old - WOW!  The house he and his 9 siblings lived in was two up and two down - so we wonder how they managed with all of them and Mum and Dad in such a small house!  

Perhaps that was one of the reasons, when he was 15 years old, that he joined the Army but after a month, his Mother found out where he was and had him brought home because he was under age.  However, when he was 16 years old, he was off again and joined the Royal Navy and whilst he was serving on HMS Warrior, was involved in the Battle of Jutland.  His parents heard that Warrior had been hit so feared the worst, but had a telegram - no internet in those days - to say he was safe and was coming home on leave.  

Alfred kept a Log Book starting in December 1920, over a hundred years ago, and although it has a few loose pages, Mrs. HCB still has it to this day and it is in good condition.  Back in November 1921, Alfred must have been “chuffed” because His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales was due aboard the ship he was serving on - no doubt he thought the Prince was coming especially for his birthday and perhaps he was!  We wonder if there was birthday cake on that day?

You might be interested to read something from Alfred’s Log Book which says:
“On the Warrior, I was supplying ammunition for the 7.5 inch gun turret.  This was the first action I had been in and it came off greatly, but I still don’t want to see any more like it.  Of the ships boys, only one was lost - he was shot as we were leaving the scene of the fight.  We were chased by four German destroyers, but some of our destroyers came up and drove them back.  As we were leaving our vessel for the one that took us off, a man with a leg off fell between the two ships but another jumped in after him and fetched him up unconscious.  He was brought round, but died on the way to land.  We lost only one officer, the chief carpenter.  We had respirators made of cotton tied round our mouths and noses and it was through this that I was saved from being gassed.”

At just 21 years of age, Alfred would have seen some terrible sights, which is one reason we all “remembered” last weekend, and especially thought of those who were killed in action - but at least Alfred came home alive.  Mrs. HCB says he was always a nervous man - but it’s not surprising when you read stories of the First and Second World Wars and it brings it home even more when we see the pictures on our television screens today of what is happening in various other wars around the world.  

So, today, on his birthday, we all remember Mrs. HCB’s grandfather, Alfred, and we are honoured to have heard of some of his bravery during the Great War.

You know we remind you every week to BE KIND and today is no exception - you never know how BEING KIND will impact those around you - and you may be the only person who has been kind to that person today - how wonderful would that be.  Admirer would be so proud of us and you!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Love from all of us in the Silly Saturday Gang xxx