A silent soldier's story uncovered through memory and research
The Man I Knew As Grandad
Known for decades simply as Grandad, he was a steady family presence who rarely spoke about his past. Yet behind his quiet nature lay a remarkable story of captivity, endurance, and survival during the Second World War.
The Man I Knew as Grandad follows a granddaughter’s search to uncover the man behind the silence, piecing together his journey through military records, personal letters, and family memories. More than a wartime account, it is a moving story of family, sacrifice, and the lasting impact of experiences carried quietly across a lifetime.
About the Book
Extraordinary wartime experiences were left mostly unspoken by him.
Arthur Hemmings spent much of his life as a husband, father, grandfather, and hardworking man who rarely spoke about the past. To those closest to him, he seemed ordinary. Behind that quiet exterior lay a notable wartime experience shaped by hardship, courage, and strength.
During the Second World War, Arthur served in North Africa before being captured and sent to Italy as a prisoner of war. Held first at Campo 65 and later at Campo 145, he faced uncertainty, deprivation, and the constant challenge of survival. When circumstances offered a narrow chance of freedom, he escaped and began a dangerous journey across unfamiliar terrain, avoiding enemy forces and depending on the kindness of strangers.
PRESERVING OVERLOOKED HISTORIES AND BRINGING FORGOTTEN VOICES BACK INTO THE LIGHT.
Dawn Hemmings
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Meet Dawn Hemmings
Dawn Hemmings is a writer whose work is driven by curiosity, reflection, and a desire to preserve stories that might otherwise disappear with time. She is the author of My Dark Secret and has developed a distinctive approach to storytelling that focuses on the experiences, memories, and moments that shape ordinary lives in extraordinary ways.
In The Man I Knew as Grandad, Dawn turns her attention to her own family history. Inspired by the limited stories shared by her grandfather, Arthur Hemmings, she embarked on a personal journey to discover the reality behind his wartime experiences. This search for answers grew into a deeply significant exploration of courage, survival, and the lasting effects of events often left unspoken.
STORIES THAT STAY WITH US
