John Albert Townsend

REME 
Service  number  19166481

John was a veteran of WW2, serving mainly in Egypt and Palestine.

He was a very private man and didn’t like to talk about his time there. All he would say was that it was a very sad time in his life.

John initially accompanied one of the frailer Veterans to Branch meetings and to Normandy. His wartime experiences gave him empathy and he could understand the sights they saw and their feelings about those who did not make it home.

As a result John and his family became deeply involved with the Branch .

John, over many years organised raffles, rattled tins outside supermarkets and helped with other events to raise funds, to enable the Branch to support the Veterans.

For many years John was also the photographer for the Branch and these photographs will be invaluable, as an archive, commemorating the Veterans.