My Brave Grampa John Murray
Soldier number: 313938
The Royal Highland Fusilers.

John Murray was fighting in Derlyck, Belgium which was liberated on the 7th of September 1944. My grandpa was fighting on foot, shooting his enemy. One night the enemy decided to send out tanks to try and take over the town and to kill the British. My Grandpa spotted the tanks attack and opened fire on them. One of the tanks went in my grandpa’s direction.While he was shooting the tank came closer and closer until it eventually pushed him up against a wall and broke both of his legs,but that never stopped him from doing his duty, so he crawled up to a gun and started shooting at the enemies tank, after that he never said a word or showed that he was in pain until he collapsed. The soldiers left him for dead but his commander, Colonel Todd ordered him to be taken to hospital. He was treated in hospital for two and a half years and spent time in two hospitals, Birmingham hospital then Hairmayers hospital.When he was learning to walk again he was allowed home for weekend visits .One weekend he was invited to Buckingham Palace where King George VI gave him the distinguished Conduct Medal. My grandfather had problems walking for the rest of his life because of this incident.Below is a photograph of the medal and the letter he recieved. My Grandfather was a real war hero.