Robert Heaton's father Frank did not like to speak about his experiences as a soldier during World War Two.

The trauma of losing many close friends and a serious gunshot wound to his head were too painful to recall.

But thanks to the Telegraph & Argus, 62-year-old Robert, from Smithville, Riddlesden, near Keighley, will finally get an insight into his father's experiences.

For more than 50 years the dust-covered army book of Private Heaton and a pile of wartime documents, medals and other personal possessions of 78 British soldiers have languished in the archives of the Russian Army.

The items were seized by the Germans in 1940 but taken by the Russia Army when it occupied Berlin.

They were only handed over to Foreign Secretary Robin Cook after lengthy negotiations and the Ministry of Defence set about reuniting the articles with the soldiers' relatives.

When a story appeared in the Telegraph & Argus, foundry worker Robert contacted the paper and will now be reunited with his father's brown booklet from his days with the Duke of Wellington Regiment.

Robert, a pattern maker for the Leach & Thompson iron foundry in Keighley, said: "My father didn't talk a great deal about the war.

"He was quite traumatised because a lot of his pals were killed and he was hospitalised towards the end of the war after he got a bullet in the head.

"From what I remember, he was taken prisoner by the Germans, which would explain why his pay book was seized.

"I'm not too pleased that the Russians kept hold of it for so long but I don't bear a grudge as I'm sure there will be some Russian families in the same position."

Robert said his father returned to England in 1945 but went into a civilian hospital in Menston before joining his wife Margaret at their home to Barn Street, Keighley, in 1948. He said: "As a result of his head injury my father, although usually a mild mannered man, was a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde character who would have quite violent moods swings, although he would be mortified afterwards.

"He did work as an odd-job man in the old Walk Mills in Park Lane but he passed away about 15 years ago. This booklet will at least be a memento of what he went through during the war."

The MoD is still trying to trace relatives of Private John Hannon, who was born on August 2, 1905, in Marmion Avenue, Fairweather Green, and served with the Duke of Wellington Regiment before leaving the army in 1945.

Anyone who can help should contact Mary Hurt at the MoD's main archive on 0208 573 3831.

e-mail: charles.heslett@bradford.

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