I persuaded my father to write down his memories and Dad's own words form the basis of this family history narrative (left) , supplemented by letters written to my mother in 1944 and photographs from the family collection. It was a very enjoyable and at times moving project to read Dad's own words and compile this tribute.
I was also proud to contribute Dad's story to the BBC "People's War" - a major project where the public were invited to post wartime memories online. An archive of 47,000 stories and 15,000 images was the result.
From national memorials to small village crosses we remember those who were killed in war, including my two great uncles John and George Danson.
The
Cenotaph in London began as a temporary structure erected for a peace
parade following the end of the First World War but following an
outpouring of national sentiment it was replaced in 1920 by a permanent
structure and designated the United Kingdom's primary national war
memorial. Designed by Edwin Lutyens and built of Portland Stone, the memorial was unveiled by King George V on 11 November 1920, the second anniversary of the end of the war. The unveiling ceremony for the Cenotaph was part of a larger procession bringing the Unknown Solider to be laid to rest in his tomb in Westminster Abbey.
The term "Cenotaph" relates to a monument to honour those who died, whose bodies are buried elsewhere or have no known grave. 
Minto War Memorial, near Hawick in the Scottish Borders
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| Taynuilt in Argyll, Scotland |
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| Clitheroe, Lancashire, England |
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| Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge in the Scottish Highlands. It overlooks the training areas of the Commando Training Depot established in 1942 at Achnacarry Castle.
 War Memorial at Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire with the names of my two great uncles John and George Danson
Copyright © 2013 · Susan Donaldson. All Rights Reserved
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