Memories of Victor Horris-Marshall and Kathleen Marshall

My grandfather, Victor Horris-Marshall, served in the Navy, possibly on HM Indefectible, which was sunk while he was on board. Survivors were later deployed to the Middle East, likely Egypt. He witnessed all his surviving friends being killed by roadside bombs. That is why he never spoke about it. His brother, Lesley Marshall, also served in the Navy and was lost at sea, never returning home.

My grandmother's story is in her book. She spoke on Radio 4 a few years ago. Her memoir is called 'What did you do in the war Gran'ma?' Her name is Kathleen Marshall. She was called Kathleen Heckford before she was married. She was a pen pal with my grandad before they got married.

I brought items today that belonged to William Edwin Heckford. He was a silver smith. He used to do silver work engravings on the officers' guns. Back then, each one would have an individual decoration. One of these was a big dragon that had to be reduced in size to fit on a gun.