Sir, Seventy years ago (June 5, 1944), a dispatch rider delivered final orders for the D-day invasion. Meanwhile, Uncle John’s ship, HMS Norfolk, was moving through the Channel on to station to begin at first light the bombardment of Nazi gun batteries. (‘Johnny’ was on Norfolk for the sinking of Scharnhorst and Bismarck, the PQ17 convoy, operation Torch and Russian convoys).

In Hampshire, Uncle Eric was preparing his tank and four days later Eric made the crossing in a landing craft, in tank with barrage balloon above and towing a piece of the Mulberry harbour. Eric motored through France, Belgium and Holland, crossing the Rhine at Nijmegen (the bridge too far).

One hundred years ago, grandfather Frank King was in the trenches at Ypres with the Royal Berkshires, he suffered severe shell shock and witnessed ‘The Angels of Ypres’. Great uncle Harry (Royal Berkshires) was killed in the battle for Arras on April 29, 1917, and he is remembered on the Arras memorial.

In Cemetery Road, great aunt Emma King waved off sons William, Percy, Heber, George and Arthur. Arthur is buried at Neuville, George was killed on HMS Empress of India, Heber is buried in Sains-en-Gohelle, William returned wounded in 1918 and Percy returned unscathed.

From Court 22, Edith said goodbye to sons Percival A King (Royal Berkshires) who was killed at Mons on September 10, 1914, buried at Aisne and mentioned in the de Ruvigny’s roll of honour, and Frederick W King, returned wounded from Mesopotamia in 1917.

In Ock Street, Ann King said farewell to sons Frederick Jack King (Marines), who was killed at Oppey Wood on April 26, 1917, (Arras memorial) and Edwin King (Royal Berkshires) who was killed on October 13, 1915, (Loos Memorial).

Arthur King (Royal Berkshires) returned wounded in 1916. Harry King returned wounded in 1919. We shall remember them.

Oh, the dispatch rider was Harry Percy James King, my father.

Steve King

River View Terrace

Abingdon