British Expeditionary Force Tank Commander in WW2
Patrick Kinsella joined up as a regular soldier in the British Army on 20th October 1930 aged 19. He joined the Grenadier Guards in London and remained there until 28th September 1939. He served in the British Expeditionary Forces as a Tank Commander and, in June 1944 at Viessoix he was severely injured, resulting in the loss of a leg. He was awarded the Military Medal for the bravery he exhibited leading up to his injury and was discharged from the Army on 31st July 1945.
Patrick did not think of himself as brave. He felt anyone would have done what he did instinctively. A first-hand account of Patrick's experiences as a Tank Commander can be read in his typewritten notes (see attached).
Patrick had married in 1933 and his son was born in 1934. His son was evacuated to Ireland to stay with Patrick's parents.
After the war, the family moved to various locations to be near the hospitals where Patrick's wounds were being treated. Patrick tried very hard to live a normal life despite having a prosthetic limb, which was often painful. Whilst living in London he worked in the ticket office of the underground. He had an allotment and made wooden toys, which he sold to Hamleys. After moving out of London in the mid 50's he worked as a painter and decorator and also in a factory making critical windows. At the factory, he was a shop steward.
