When I was young, I refused to wear a poppy, because " I didn't know anyone who had died in the Great War". Then, in 2006, I started to research my Family Tree, and discovered that my grandmother had an older brother who had served with the 6th Battalion, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry. He had joined up in September 1914, and was sent to France in July 1915. The Battalion was subjected to a gas attack by the Germans on 1st October 1915, and one man died a couple of days later. Sadly, that man was my Great Uncle George. He was buried at Levantie, and was the only one of my grandmothers five brothers who didn't return home to Oakengates, in Shropshire, Their youngest brother, Harry, was also gassed in France., and he suffered with ill health for the rest of his life. Incidentally, when George joined up, his name was spelt incorrectly, probably because he had a "thick" local dialect. His name was actually George Edward PADMORE. He is commemorated on our local war memorial at Oakengates Park as Pte George Podmore, and this, too, was a spelling mistake. The memorial is sited only 200 yards away from where he was born and raised in Station Fields. Uncle George, I am so very, very proud of you, and as long as I live, I will never forget you. I always wear a poppy now, and I can wear it with great pride. Thanks to you. Goodnight, God bless.

Wendy Charnley