Big love on his birthday to Yorkshire farm-hand Jack (John Robert) Prentis, who joined the Royal Artillery in 1940 and would be lost at El Alamein on 11th September 1942 firing his 25-pounder, his courage shining bright.
His last birthday had been his 22nd.
Jack’s little brother George meanwhile back home in Kippax had managed to marry his sweetheart Hilda while home on what was probably embarkation leave in the summer of 1943.
They had three days together as man and wife, but George would not make it home again to Hilda.
He was killed aged 20 at Salerno with the Northumberland Fusiliers, almost a year to the day after his brother.
Their hometown of Garforth has with great pride put up a lovely Roll of Honour for its lost sons, from which this photo is taken.
And for George’s epitaph, Hilda chose:
Though you have gone, dear, we are never apart. Beautiful memories of you still live within my heart.
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