Hill 170 to Spean Bridge .....a sons search

This is a repost from a previous post.

Hill 170 'After words

Everything that follows started out for me as a personal search.
A search to find my Father. When dad died I was 27 yrs old it was the mid 70's and things were much different then. It's a tale that's been told and that is felt a million times over. I just didn't take that much notice of him. Sure he was dad, always there with a laugh and a joke always supportive always reliable, in fact everything a dad should be. I think I took things for granted.
When he died at 55yrs old it was a shock and everyone in the family felt it. But he was gone.
Having a young family myself I got swept away with life and dad sort of faded into the past
Always there but a memory. But always a nice memory.
As I now arrived at middle age I started to have more time to think. My children were grown into young adults and doing their own thing. Dad started to re-emerge into my life
And then it suddenly hit me. I hadn't known my father in any personal way at all. Because he'd died so young I'd never been able to ask him questions that one adult would ask another. How he felt about things? What had happened in his life? How had things shaped him?
One thing I had always known was dad had been a Commando in the war. Having said that he was never boastful or forthcoming with much information. There had been the occasional exotic story about his time in India. The joke and bravado about the tough training. The fact that he had seen action in Burma. And only once to my memory the mention of a hill Hill 170. The only details of which I can remember were it was an epic battle with many lost friends and dad himself getting a wounded leg. This rare conversation ended in a typical way
Dad saying 'only a few were able to walk back off of that position' and me interjecting, Was you one of them Dad? and dad replying "Well I'm bleeding well here aren't I" and then all of us collapsing in laughter at my stupid question.
As I say these fleeting memories are all that were left. That and a case of dad's old army stuff that had been given to me by my mum just after dad's funeral. And that had been in my loft with only the occasional cursory look for some 15yrs.
Sitting with my family one evening we had settled in to watch the new channel 4 production of Commando. A four part series detailing the early history of the wartime Commandos.
When I saw the first few minutes of it I was shocked but not in a bad way. The programme involved interviews with old Commandos. These characters were an amazing likeness to my father in nearly everyway their demeanour their attitude and most strikingly their total modesty. Although they were older the resolute character that had been such a part of dads' makeup shone through. These men it suddenly dawned on me represented who my father had been. That night I was restless it was as though a ghost of dad had appeared to me. The next morning I was determined to look further into my fathers' war time history.
The case of artefacts came down from the loft. It was all there. The record books, the old photos, the discharge papers. And then the FS fighting knife and the jungle issue Kukri. The Green Beret. My dad had played his part in the creation of a legend. A legend I needed to find out more about
Dad had been in No 12 and No 1 Commando from about 1941-1946. This information had been supplied to me via the Army records office in Scotland. I had a few photos of dad in his army uniform and even one of his troop taken in India or Burma but I knew it was No1 Commando. There was also a post card of a memorial to the Commandos in Spean Bridge Scotland. This became our first goal to visit this famous land mark.
The arrangements were made and we flew from East Midlands to Glasgow on a bright sunny May morning picked up a car and made our way to Spean Bridge just outside of Fort William.
The journey taking about 2hrs. During which time the conversation with my wife inevitably turned to the Commandos.
What had it been like to train at the famous Achnacarry Castle, what a shock it must have been arriving in this remote place for those men so long ago? Those men whose destiny was to fight and some to die on foreign shores in even remoter parts of the world
We past through Spean Bridge with mounting excitement and expectation for our first view of the famous Commando Memorial.
Dad started floating back into my mind. I was trying to imagine him walking and drinking with his army pals around this place. All the jokes and the trepidation they must have shared and felt
And then suddenly rounding the hill on the corner it was there. The memorial took our breath away. It was stunningly awe inspiring. It was totally dramatic and so emotionally charged we both fell into a silence... The Great Glen in which it stands gives the whole scene an almost cathedral like feel. The three Commando soldiers that form the monument stand proudly looking out across the silent valley. Their attitude one of resolute defiance. The very size of the memorial adding another unworldly feel to the scene. As you approach the dias the figures rear up at you almost daring you to come closer. It's as if they are defending this, their, hill and claiming this piece of the world their own. And of course it is.
The whole thing I found overwhelming and very emotionally raw. I put this down to the personal nature of my visit. What in terms of my father this meant to me. The walk to the memorial from where we had parked was no more than about five minutes and in this time I had unwittingly lost contact with my wife. She had known dad for only a short time but when I did link up with her again she had a tear in her eye. The effect of this fantastic memorial and its location had touched her just the same.
The creator of this, which can only be described as a brilliant piece of art, had captured totally the essence of these legendary fighting men. In every way, the location, the stature and the demeanour melds together to make you feel you are in the presence of something very special indeed.
I tried to control my welling feelings of belonging fused with an enormous sense of loss. But now I was clear. My mission was set out before me. This is where I would find all the things and happenings that had made my father who he was. All the experiences that had shaped him. All his reference points. Here among the history of the Commandos.
I stepped up onto the plinth and looked up at the three proud comrades with a strange feeling of recognition. To add a further almost theatrical touch a cloud passed over the figures heads as I reached up and placed my outstretched hand and lay it on the boot of the nearest man.
And with a soft almost whisper laced with pride I muttered 'Hello Dad'

John Mewett

Son of Bob'Mauler Mewett No12 & No 1 Commando

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 27/04/2007 22:40:06

Hi John - this was wonderful the first time we read it and still is. We knew we were going to be part of something wonderful here.

- Janet

Thanks Janet

Sorry for re-posting but this was an early test post when we first sarted the site........and the user name was also just a test.....so it got a bit lost so thought I'd re-post.

Happy New Year Canada!!

Regards

JohnM

your story gets me going . Sums up all of us Sons of Commandos. wonderful
Did you ever post a pic of the kukri?

thanks stephen

Yes .......i've just bumped up the Kukri Pics for you in recent Topics

regards

john M

John
Without question the same can be said for me, I remember my oldest son Robby visiting the Memorial whilst he was on Holiday in the area, this was just after we had lost Dad and well before I had made the trip myself. He phoned me from there and with a distinct falter in his voice he said "Dad ive found Gramps memorial" and that sums it up it is the memorial for all of us, belonging to all of us, each having our own very special memories. From then on The CVA takes hold comradeship and long may it last.

1000% Ron........UWC

Best regards

John m

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 06/06/2013 23:47:43

For all Commando kids.........

The memory lives on

john M

I know just how you feel. Both times I have been to Spean Bridge I try to imagine how those men felt after a long route march through the Scottish hills not knowing what the future held for them.

This is the first time I've read your post, John, and it moved me to tears.

Thank you.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 08/06/2013 00:51:47

Hi Eileen

I have to re-read this occasionally ..........for within it lies the inspiration that drives me to try to assure these men, our Fathers ,Grandfathers friends and relations are never forgotten.

We will remember them all.......with pride.

regards

john M

Thanks for bumping that John, well worth reading, I could feel the passion. It chimes with me as a Commando grand kid. My granddad was also very resolute, wouldn't give up, very positive and very light hearted in adversity.

Like many, I was raised on amusing Commando related anecdotes and tales of exotic places, but frustratingly very rarely any mention or details of operations. When, naturally I did try to ask about such matters it would result in a short sentence or two followed by a distant gaze and changing of subject to something light hearted. I realise that he was protecting us and himself from reliving some of the suffering that went on, on all sides, suffering that meant we could be free to go about our lives.

A big Thank you John, for the CVA and creating this website, where we and people in the future can learn fascinating details about the experiences of other Commandos, as well as sharing little snippets about that very special Commando in our own lives.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 10/06/2013 14:21:23

Thanks Mark for your very kind comment.......

Makes it all very worthwhile.

Best regards

John M

Hi John

I hope it is ok for me to add a bit here.

I have just read your post for the first time and as with many others who have read this, it has brought me to tears.

I could never have written such a truly heartfelt, eloquent and inspirational piece like you have, but echo every sentiment exactly. It has inspired me once again to carry on trying to find out about my Dad so thank you.

Sarah

Thanks so much Sarah........I am pleased the inspiration has rubbed off on yourself and the many other users of this site.

As I have said the inspiration I felt then still carries on today ........and with fantastic assistance from Peter Rogers and Nick Collins and our moderators Julie and Mike and not forgetting our National secretary Geoff Murray this site is full of much new information and stories photos etc beyond my dreams. And hopefully is a fitting tribute to our gallant fathers and families bravery and will remain so for generations to come......an inspiration.

Again many thanks and good wishes

John M