Stoke army veteran pays tribute to his grandfather's D-Day battle
It's 80 years since the largest military operation ever attempted - in what was the key turning point of World War II
Last updated 6th Jun 2024
A former army medic from Stoke-on-Trent will be marking this 80th anniversary of D-Day by remembering his grandfather, who took part in the Normandy landings.
Lee West aged 50, served for 10 years himself, including two tours of Bosnia before leaving in 2000 and during that time was involved in delivering emergency care on the front-line. He now receives support from Help for Heroes for the physical pain he is living with, caused by a back injury, as well as mental health problems due to his experiences in Bosnia.
Lee said: “The D-Day operation largely marked the beginning of the end of the Second World War. It’s so important to continue to remember the brave heroes who selflessly fought for our freedom and saw unimaginable terrors. Things that no amount of training could fully prepare them for.”
Lee’s grandfather was Warrant Officer Frank Adams, a talented musician who played the trumpet, and served with the Dorsetshire Regiment. He had already been part of the invasions of Sicily and Italy, when at the age of 31 he joined the landings in Normandy on Gold Beach. With over 1,200 casualties, the infantry soldiers including Grandad Frank took the sea defences that had made the landing the most difficult of the assault.
Over the following days Frank’s regiment pushed deeper into North West Europe and on day four, a 105-pound shell exploded close-by, and he received a number of shrapnel wounds, one of which destroyed his right hand. He was medically discharged and sadly suffered with mental health problems as a result of his experiences for the rest of his life.
Lee said: “My grandad found life difficult due to the loss of any major use of his hand and not being able to play music. His mental health took a huge hit. He wasn't a very social man in his last few years sadly, but I remember his warmth and strong hugs. He never talked about the war or his injury. He was a proud man and didn’t want a fuss. I’d say knowing what I do now about mental health, that he was a prime candidate for PTSD.”
Lee added: “Many who survived the D-Day landings returned home to face new battles. Painful injuries, mental trauma, isolation, disability and poverty, and unfortunately this is still happening for veterans today,”
Lee is supporting the Help for Heroes D-Day appeal. “Too many veterans like me feel broken, with nowhere to turn. I first contacted Help for Heroes about my physical pain, but my caseworker quickly saw that I needed much more than just a support bed or a wheelchair. He became like a confidant, a friend. We always had a bit of a laugh and he never judged me, which made a really big difference at the time."
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