Lest We Forget

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Remembrance Sunday services in Ealing

Cyril Brown was just 16 years old when he volunteered to fight in the Second World War.

A sea cadet trained in morse code he spent three-and-a-half years as a wireless operator on call, always ready to go out on submarine missions.

He said: “We would go on silent runs and go deep, and it got a bit smelly in the submarine after a while. I got acclimatised to it eventually, but I never thought about being ‘depth-charged’ or anything like that because I was so young. If I’d thought about it I would have been scared to death.''

Now, 70 years after the outbreak of the war, at 85, he will be one of the proud ex-servicemen and women parading through Greenford to remember the many who have given their lives.

He said: ‘’The war was quite an experience and I do not often talk about it. I appreciate what our young boys are going through in Afghanistan and of course it does bring it all back.

'' I help with selling poppies and stand outside Tesco at the Hoover building in Perivale and it is amazing how many questions I get asked by children.

''I will shed a tear on Remembrance Day.’’

Cyril has lived in Greenford for 36 years and belongs to the Royal British Legion.

Hundreds of people joined Cyril and paid respects to all service personnel in ceremonies and services in Greenford, Ealing and Southall today.

 

You can read more of Cyril's story in the latest edition of the council's Around Ealing

 

 

November 8, 2009