209320 Mjr. Arthur Horwood British Army Royal Artillery from:Pitsea, Essex My Dad, Arthur Horwood joined the army because he wanted a pair of boots like he had seen in the army recruitment posters to replace the old ladies shoes he had. He was a poor boy from London who worked in the glass works in the East End or pushed a barrow from which he sold various items such as firewood or salt.
He rose through the ranks and finished up his army career as a Major with the George Medal, (he never would divulge why he had been awarded the G.M.- he always was very modest and hard working). He did a stint at the start of the war on Canvey Island with the 'Dads army' of the time and served under Colonel Fielder. During the main part of the war he took part in the Italian campaign and eventually was sent home injured after having an argument with a land mine.
He was posted to various places such as Colchester Military Prison and Dover and after the war had finished was posted to Egypt with his family of four (not me as I had not yet been born!). After the war he rose to a high position in the stores of a motor vehicle plant in Basildon and settled for a long while in Southend on Sea, Essex, before coming to live with me in Southend in his old age after the loss of my mum. He died in 2004 at the grand old age of 98.
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