Yes like you my dad served in the South Wales Borderers and was wounded twice in different conflicts including Dunkirk where he was wounded by shrapnel in the face. He returned to action twice after and the torment of going back must have been great. He fought his way through and up into Germany for the surrender. Like your dad the children gleamed little of the conflict only the good stories such as the one when he was on leave and brought a platoon prisoner home to be returned to barracks at Brecon. Needless to say they went out drinking got detached but the prisoner was on the station to met him the next morning to face the music.

Picture the scene today in view of all the D day acts of valour School teachers needing councillors over parent protests re teaching their children about gay relationships!

Most of us who are the baby-boom generation were born to parents who were involved one way or another in WW2. And the real heroes almost invariably would say 'we were just doing our job'. My father was a career naval officer who nearly drowned when HMS Courageous was sunk, but then went on to serve as 'Commander Flying' on aircraft carriers in the Battle of the Atlantic. My mother was a wartime Wren officer, so it was naval service that brought my parents together.

But even when all the old heroes are dead, we must go on remembering. To remember them, as on occasions like this and on Remembrance Sunday, is to commemorate their sacrfice, and it doesn't glorify war. I think Remembrance Sunday needs to move to a wider celebration of all who served, including those who came back (without them my generation wouldn't be here). They didn't give their lives, but they risked them, and made all manner of sacrifices, if not the ultimate one, in doing so.