254169 Pte. Walter Dinsdale MM.British Army 2nd Btn. East Lancashire Regiment from:Settle Walter Dinsdale was my Grandfather. He joined up in 1914 and was in the First World War for its duration. He was stationed in France and was wounded twice. He, like many who fought in this war, did not really talk about his experiences.
It was only later in his 80s that he spoke a little of what happened to him to my Uncle. He said that he did not think he would survive, and made light of being awarded the Military Medal.
He said it arrived through the post one day after the war had ended. He told my Mother, his daughter, that at the front you did not know if the soldiers were dead or not but could not do anything about it. He told my Uncle that he lost his close friend when he was blown up beside him.
One interesting thing he did tell my Uncle was that when the announcement that the war had ended he along with other soldiers who were recovering from their wounds were on Saltburn Beach. There was no joyous reaction or celebration just complete silence.
After the war Grandad came back to Stainforth, near Settle and continued to be a farmer. He was a quiet dignified man who lived into his ninetieth year.
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