A MAN whose great-grandfather died in the First World War has spoken of the moment he was overcome with emotion when visited his Commonwealth grave in France.
Tobias Stocks, who grew up in Swain House and Heaton in Bradford but now lives in Hipperholme, Halifax, took his two children and some friends on a five-day road trip to Europe.
On the trip, Mr Stocks and his football-mad children, Beatrice, nine, and Ivor, eight, visited Germany to take in the England-Slovenia match at the Euros, but the family’s journey through France was even more poignant.
They paid a special visit to Serre to see the Commonwealth war grave of Mr Stocks’ great-grandfather, John Percy Stocks, of Shelf.
He was a sergeant who served in the Prince of Wales Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), also known as the Bradford Pals. He died on February 17, 1917, at the age of 37.
“It was so emotional and powerful but we felt really good after we visited his grave,” he said.
Mr Stocks explained: “When I was a child, we had a portrait of my great-grandfather on the wall of my grandma’s house, so I knew of the sacrifice he made for his country in The Great War.
“I knew I wanted to visit his grave so my cousin, David Stocks, helped point me in the right direction of how to do the research.
“I looked on the Commonwealth grave’s site to see if I could find my great-grandfather’s grave, and I found it.”
While visiting the grave, Mr Stocks and his children saw the many other war graves and they also paid a visit to the nearby Bradford Pals war memorial.
Mr Stocks also said his family and friends who went on the trip felt very welcomed by the French.
“We got on the ferry and stayed in a lovely village just outside Dunkirk," he said.
“We watched the France game along with the locals. It was a great welcoming atmosphere.
“They were also so grateful of the sacrifice the soldiers made when we told them we were going to my great-grandfather’s grave.”
Mr Stocks also explained how important the journey was for his children and two other young children who joined the trip.
“The kids had such a life-enriching experience,” he said. “We had four children in our mini-bus aged 10, nine, eight, and seven, and they all behaved like angels."
“I’ve also ticked something important off my bucket list,” added Mr Stocks.
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