Growing up, neighbours and acquaintances treated my father with an awed respect. They knew he ‘did his bit’ in the War.
Sadly respect wasn’t automatic for all veterans – even those displaying incredible bravery.
On March 20, 1943 in his diary my father read ‘Parade’ magazine that featured fellow London Colney, Herts resident, Petty Officer Tommy Gould (Pictured).
Tommy was awarded the Victoria Cross after risking his life to get rid of an unexploded bomb on the submarine he was serving on in the Mediterranean. He saved many other submariners’ lives.
But 20 years after the War Tommy lost his office job, saying his VC was proving a liability. He had to sell the medal to support himself. He died in 2001 aged 87.
His VC is held, with his other medals, by the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women in the Jewish Museum London, Camden.