60 yr old Shrapnel

51highland · 24-03-2008, 09:36 AM

Just listened to a story on the local BBC (Look East) tv news. A ww2 veteran had been to hospital for investigation on his lungs. The consultant told the gentleman concerned that there was nothing cancerous, but, they had found a sliver of Shrapnel in his lung. Asked when he got it, he replied " I must've got it during the battle for Pegasus Bridge, thats when I was wounded".
His Name, Don Shepherd of the Royal Engineers, thought Brian might like the story. The consultant has decided to leave it where it is as it is not causing any problems.

sapper · 24-03-2008, 11:46 AM

Wonderful. Though I do not recognise the name. Who would after 63 years plus? AS you know we spent some time at Pegasus. But there were several RE units there at that time. I found it interesting, because I still have half a steel ball from an S mine in my skull by my right eye.
Two things arise. One...I always had trouble with that eye, it was often very bloodshot and I put it down to some damage that shrapnel had caused. Then I lost the partial sight in the eye. Saw the eye specialist, and told him about the bit of steel ball buried in my skull by that eye. His reply was "Got nothing to do with it, Its just old age!"

Two. In the second wounding in Holland... put an end to my little caper! I never knew what it was except a violent explosion, There had been what was called "Desultory Shelling " on the road.
Thing is, when a shell, or whatever explodes, it often spreads bits of dirt and anything in the ground "as shrapnel"
For years I picked what looked like bits of dirt out of my legs. The second wounding left a bit of steel shrapnel under my watch wrist strap, It wanders about, but can be found with a little magnet!
The amusing thing about all this is, that when I go through an airport screening I am grabbed and searched, the metal that was put there to assist healing my undercarriage together sets the alarm off.
But then I was put back together by a wonderful Genius. If you want a real giggle the plating is stamped with a war office arrow and MOD.
Bionic Sapper

24-03-2008, 09:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
51highland Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ipswich Posts: 827	60 yr old Shrapnel Just listened to a story on the local BBC (Look East) tv news. A ww2 veteran had been to hospital for investigation on his lungs. The consultant told the gentleman concerned that there was nothing cancerous, but, they had found a sliver of Shrapnel in his lung. Asked when he got it, he replied " I must've got it during the battle for Pegasus Bridge, thats when I was wounded". His Name, Don Shepherd of the Royal Engineers, thought Brian might like the story. The consultant has decided to leave it where it is as it is not causing any problems. __________________ 51 highland www.keep-em-moving.com Là á Bhlàir's math na Càirdean (Friends are good in the day of battle) Na diobair caraid's a charraid (Forsake not a friend in the fray) Cuimhnichibh na suinn nach maireann . Mairidh an cliu beo gu brath. (In memory of the Heroes who are no more. May their Fame live on forever) Last edited by 51highland; 24-03-2008 at 10:34 AM. Reason: update.

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24-03-2008, 11:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
sapper WW2 Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,512	Wonderful. Though I do not recognise the name. Who would after 63 years plus? AS you know we spent some time at Pegasus. But there were several RE units there at that time. I found it interesting, because I still have half a steel ball from an S mine in my skull by my right eye. Two things arise. One...I always had trouble with that eye, it was often very bloodshot and I put it down to some damage that shrapnel had caused. Then I lost the partial sight in the eye. Saw the eye specialist, and told him about the bit of steel ball buried in my skull by that eye. His reply was "Got nothing to do with it, Its just old age!" Two. In the second wounding in Holland... put an end to my little caper! I never knew what it was except a violent explosion, There had been what was called "Desultory Shelling " on the road. Thing is, when a shell, or whatever explodes, it often spreads bits of dirt and anything in the ground "as shrapnel" For years I picked what looked like bits of dirt out of my legs. The second wounding left a bit of steel shrapnel under my watch wrist strap, It wanders about, but can be found with a little magnet! The amusing thing about all this is, that when I go through an airport screening I am grabbed and searched, the metal that was put there to assist healing my undercarriage together sets the alarm off. But then I was put back together by a wonderful Genius. If you want a real giggle the plating is stamped with a war office arrow and MOD. Bionic Sapper

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