Derek’s Dad was just 21 in 1943 when he answered the call to fight in WWII.
He made it through the next two years but never forgot that so many of his pals didn’t. Maybe that’s why he was a grateful man who always put his family first. Maybe he always had in mind the men he knew who didn’t get to continue on and have careers, families, lives.
We have Reg’s uniform, boots and other bits and pieces from his life in the army. Online, I found the exact signal corps badge he would have worn, and added it to the collection. Five years after this photo was taken, he would meet Audrey and they would start this crazy family I’m now part of. They raised six children. He worked as a Labatt’s executive. Audrey stayed home until after the nest was empty. They had a good life that was as close to the supportive clan on The Brady Bunch as any I’ve ever encountered.
I only met Reg once, briefly, in the early 1980’s on Christmas Day. It wasn’t especially memorable to anyone but me, really. The crazy bustle of the big family on Christmas stayed with me. The boys all called him Turk, but no one can remember why. Now I drink in the stories about him. Although none of them really have to do with the war itself, they all had its influence, because he was so influenced by it. Today I give thanks to Reg and Ellis (my late, former father-in-law) and everyone else who gave or was prepared to give it all, in the name of freedom. I’m more of a dove than a hawk when it comes to war, but I will always give my full, unconditional support to the people who serve.