Injuries from the Battlefield

The contributor's father, Francis Edward Burnham, lost his leg during the Second World War. He was a quiet, strong man who never spoke about his experiences. The contributor had found photos of her father in the desert; however, she and her siblings could not piece his story together. The contributor noted that her father also had a "floppy ear" from being hit by a bullet, although the ear had been reshaped by a friend.

The contributor explained that her father became a Sergeant and was ordered to serve in India. He sent a letter to his family after losing his leg, and the contributor highlighted that his tone was reminiscent of the phrase "stiff upper lip." The contributor's father became dangerously ill after losing his leg, as the wound had not closed properly, and more of his leg was removed. The contributor added that her father had received new boots just prior to losing his leg, and she recalled her father joking that it was a waste of a new pair of boots.

The contributor commented that no male relatives spoke about their experiences of the Second World War. Her mother, Nelly Mary Burnham, did not speak about the war either. The contributor noted that her mother was supported by a few friends and that she would have been disapproving if the contributor's father had shared his stories of the war with his daughter when she was young. The contributor's father wrote his life story in a book, which was given to the church and subsequently lost. The contributor added that she was put in service to a clergyman at age 7, and she was raised with both discipline and kindness as a child.

The contributor's mother had worked for the General Post Office (GPO) as a telephonist; however, the contributor was not aware of her mother's role during the Second World War. The contributor noted that the family did not have much information about who their relatives were and what their background was. The contributor mentioned that her mother may have been a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAFs); however, her mother was young and tried to escape home as she had struggled to cope. The military police found the contributor's mother and took her back. The contributor highlighted that she thinks her mother is an amazing person.