Bernard Sam Hanson was born on the 13th September 1918 in Birmingham. He then moved to Bradford where he worked as a baker in his father’s shop in Clayton, Bradford.

He enlisted in the Second Battalion Royal Scots on 19th October 1939 in Bradford. It was not clear why a Bradfordian would have joined the Royal Scots but a recruitment campaign across England was set up to build strength in anticipation of war ahead and many young men were recruited.

He was possibly recruited into the Second Battalion Royal Scots because the regiment had recently returned from France depleted and more recruits were urgently needed.

After the defeat of Hong Kong, Bernard was captured by the Japanese and transported to Japan on the Hell Ship, Lisbon Maru.

He survived the sinking and was recaptured by the Japanese and taken to Kobe Prison Camp where he remained until his release at the end of the war.

Bernard returned to Yorkshire and met my mother, Annie. They were married in 1946 and went on to have seven children.

After his return from Japan he once again became a baker in his parents shop in Claydon, Bradford. He made the most delicious fruit cakes, wedding cakes, pies and buns. Later in life he became an engineer at English Electric Company in Bradford.

He loved his family very much, but he never spoke to any of us about what happened to him during the war.

I feel so sad that I never got to tell him how proud we are of him for what he went through for our freedom.

Private Bernard Sam Hanson passed away in 1992, aged 74.