JCB has paid a special tribute to the relatives of employees whose family members served their country in the war.
The digger maker unveiled a wall of honour at its World Headquarters in Rocester yesterday ahead of the 80th anniversary of VE Day today.
Employees gathered to share stories of their families’ sacrifices – from soldiers on the front line to land girls on the Home Front. They were joined by Chelsea Pensioners Ted Fell, Barry Prior and Mick Skerratt dressed in their traditional red tunics and tricorn hats.
At the ceremony, Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire Sir Ian Dudson CBE unveiled huge digital screens bearing the photographs of employees’ relatives and a description of their role in the war, contributed by JCB employees from the UK, India, the USA, and Germany.
Almost 50 relatives of JCB employees were honoured at the event which was also attended by JCB Deputy Chairman George Bamford. His grandfather – JCB founder Joseph Cyril Bamford – was involved in aircraft supply chain work in the Gold Coast during the war and George’s grandmother Marjorie enlisted as a land girl working on a farm in Essex.
George said: “Many JCB employees have family members who served in the war and today is about saying thank you to them for their service and keeping alive the memory of all those who served.”
Among those being honoured was Eileen Lavery, of Uttoxeter, who joined up as a WREN in May 1944, when she was just 18. Eileen, who will celebrate her 100th birthday in September, was guest of honour at yesterday’s event and is the grandmother of JCB PA Denise Paterson.
Denise said: “We really do owe my gran’s generation everything after what they lived through and what they sacrificed for us.”
Among the speakers was JCB Change Control Manager Andrew Keeling whose great-grandfather Robert Rowley was in the Territorial Army and served in the Far East. He was captured by the Japanese during the Battle of Java in 1942 and spent a year in captivity. After a spell in Singapore, he was sent to Thailand on a train journey that took four days and that was followed by a two-day, 104-mile march.
Andrew, who works at the World HQ, said: “It’s fantastic that JCB has offered the opportunity for employees to tell the stories of relatives’ service in World War II and I’m very proud to tell my great-grandfather’s as we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.”
Group Robot Programmer was at the ceremony remembering the service of his grandfather John Mansell, of Stoke-on-Trent, a Gunner in the 102 Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery.
Philip, from Caverswall, said: “My grandfather never spoke much about what he saw or encountered during his service. He only told his family limited details, preferring to keep that part of his life separate.
“I remember him telling me he was one of the first to land on Gold Beach, during the Normandy Landings on D-day, the 6th of June, 1944. I can only imagine what he must have seen and experienced. I am extremely proud that we can remember him today and everyone else of his generation who fought for our freedom.”
The JCB employees’ family stories also include American Lt Ambrose Grant, a B17 pilot in Army Air Corps who became a prisoner of war after his plane crashed in Holland, relatives of JCB Germany Field Service Manager Berthold Schwertheim whose two great-uncles died after being conscripted and sent to fight against the Russians and James Karkada, grandfather of JCB India Purchase Cost Controller Glenn Karkada, who worked as a Radio Operator in the British India Army.
The JCB Wall of Honour and commemorative display is open to the public and will remain in the JCB World Headquarters reception at Rocester for the next two weeks.
