'My Unknown Soldier'.

About `The Unknown Soldier`.
The one who saved our lives.
Memories about the 12th of April 1945.

And every year, on the 25th of April, I remember.




In Australia, every year on the 25th of April, we all commemorate Anzac Day.
A day that is reserved to honour the soldiers who died during wars.





In Australia, and other countries, they have memorials where they entombed `The Unknown Soldier`, an unknown soldier who died during a war.
He was not `unknown` to his parents, grand-parents, wife, children, his friends or others.
He was `unknown` to whoever was responsible for that war.
He is also `unknown` to whoever is responsible for war.
No one knows what good or bad deeds they performed, they are known as `heroes`.
And so they should, because it is all `unknown` and blissfully so.




But this is all about `My Unknown Soldier`




`My Unknown Soldier` I met during World War 2 (1939-1945) will never be `unknown` to me.
He is `The Unknown Soldier`, My Unknown Soldier.



I remember a young face, I never knew or will know his name.
I remember his kindness, he wanted to help us.
I never knew why he did what he did.
I never knew why he saved our life, my life and the life of some of the others from the prison camp.
My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier` picked us up from the side of a road and promised to find help for us.
My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier` helped us to get on the back of his army truck because we could not do that ourselves, we were too sick or wounded.
My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier` drove to a number of places, places he thought could take us in and help us to survive from what we were suffering from.
And yes, My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier`, he knew and found a place that took the wounded, but refused to take the sick.
And yes, My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier`, knew another place with a hospital.

My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier`, took us to a German Prison Camp and indeed, they did have a hospital
This German Prison Camp was a Prisoner-of-War-Camp.
This Prisoner-of-War-Camp was not just an ordinary German Prison Camp.
It was a Prisoner-of-War-Camp that held British Soldiers.
This Prisoner-of-War-Camp was not just an ordinary camp.
It was not ordinary because they were having a ball of a time.
We know, the British and Germans loved and still love their soccer!
And guess what, there were two teams playing soccer, a German and a British team with plenty of enthusiastic supporters.
And guess what, when My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier`, who looked after us asked permission to get help for us and let us in their hospital, they flatly refused to take us.
And guess what, the ones that refused to take us were the British soldiers, playing soccer, they just waved us off.
We had to leave and the British happily continued their soccer match against the Germans.


Then My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier`, told us that he would take us to one other place he knew.
The only thing was, he told us, he would have to leave us at that other place.
He would otherwise get into big trouble as he was a German Soldier with a German Army Truck and helping us without permission.
When My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier`, arrived at that last place, he was not allowed to enter the grounds of that hospital.
My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier`, helped us down from the truck and took us to a side gate.
My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier`, then notified somebody inside and left us.

For many years we, Jo my wife and I have been attending the Dawn Anzac Service.
For the past few years after my Jo passed away, I have attended the service on my own.
And I promised myself that I will attend these services for as long as I possible can.
I do respect the people who are there to honour their `heroes`
But I am there to say thanks to My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier`, a `Hero`.
My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier`, became a `hero` there and then, because he felt it his duty to disobey his military orders, by trying to help and save us.
Yes, this Unknown Soldier, My Unknown Soldier, he was a German Soldier, a German Soldier in active service.

I never saw or heard from My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier`, again.
My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier` will never be forgotten and to me, will never be `unknown`, even without knowing his name.
Whatever happened to My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier`, I hope it was the best that life can bring.
I hope that many people might have known My Unknown Soldier, `The Unknown Soldier`, by name and enjoyed his company.

I remember a young face, the face of My Unknown Soldier.





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