Sir, - My father was born in Ennis, Co. Clare in 1911. He enlisted in the British Army in 1939 and joined the Royal Artillery. He served with the British Expeditionary Force in France and was taken off Dunkirk beach in 1940. After recovering from wounds, he was passed fit for airborne duties and was posted to the 6th Air Landing Brigade part of the 6th. Airborne Division and was subsequently landed in Normandy in 1944.
He served time at Pegasus Bridge, on the Caen Canal, and was evacuated with wounds to England. On recovery, he was posted to the 1st Air Landing Light Regiment and was part of the Allied liberation force of Norway in 1945. He was discharged from the British Army in 1947.
He did all this for the simplest of reasons. He has told me he joined, up to fight against fascism. We no longer have the imagination in the contemporary world to understand just how dreadful that threat was to him and his generation. And if he and many like him had not made the decision to fight, and in some cases to sacrifice their lives, we could not today indulge ourselves in a debate about the wearing of a poppy or any other symbol of remembrance. We would not have the freedom to do so.
Each year I wear my poppy with pride. I defy anyone to tell me why such an act is improper. - Yours, etc.,
Reston Close,
Westbury Estate,
Athlunkard,
Co Clare.
P.S. My father is now 85 years of age. He is not well but still with us. Long may it remain so.