My grandad lied about his role in the war and I feel so let down
DEAR DEIDRE: MY grandad was my hero but now I have discovered he told me a huge lie, I feel so hurt.
As a little boy I spent hours with him in his allotment and I loved it when he took me to the pub for a fizzy drink.
I’m now 55 and I was devastated when he died ten years ago.
He told me he was a paratrooper in the Second World War but after seeing his military records recently I found out he was, in fact, a field engineer in the Army.
He was on the home front and then went to Europe to build bridges and railways.
Being an engineer is a perfectly honourable role, so why lie?
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I know it’s not unusual for soldiers to embellish their war past but when it’s a family member, it feels a different.
My grandad was a lovely man. He was by all accounts a good husband, father and friend and I loved him.
I’ve decided not to tell my family and I’m not sure how I should feel about it.
DEIDRE SAYS: He may have felt his experience didn’t live up to the ideal depiction of war heroism, but it doesn’t mean he didn’t struggle or suffer.
His motivation was most likely to gain respect and admiration.
He may not have been a paratrooper, but that doesn’t take away from what he did do for the war effort.
Try not to let this sour the wonderful memories you have of your grandfather.