Hi Les,
From what you say I think I now realise who your Mother is. If I'm correct then I met her at Pat's funeral in about 1972. My father, Joe, was also one of your Mother's brothers; he died in 2004. He was also reticent about the past which was frustrating. But he also said very little about the war; on the other hand he had lots to say on horse racing! Joe left ballinrobe in the mid-1930's & only went back once whilst his mother (Lizzie) was alive and that was immediately after he was demobbed in '46. Throughout the war he used to have half his army pay sent to his mother every month, as she must have found life difficult after her husband died in 1928 leaving her with 5 children to bring up.
Scouseboy's comment about Titanic could be helpful as it certainly fits timewise. Definitely worth investigating. Otherwise, apart from succumbing to some illness, he may have been in the same circus as Lizzie & missed a safetynet one day.
Can we swap mobile numbers as that will save a lot of time?
All the best,
John Hughes
