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Cremation reveals WWII veteran's shrapnel in leg | Cremation reveals WWII veteran's shrapnel in leg |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The family of a World War II veteran have found out just how injured he was after about 6oz (170g) of shrapnel was found following his cremation. | The family of a World War II veteran have found out just how injured he was after about 6oz (170g) of shrapnel was found following his cremation. |
Ronald Brown, who died last week aged 94, was injured in an explosion while serving in France in August 1944. | Ronald Brown, who died last week aged 94, was injured in an explosion while serving in France in August 1944. |
Medics left the shrapnel in his left leg as it was near an artery and thought it was safer. | Medics left the shrapnel in his left leg as it was near an artery and thought it was safer. |
His family said his only complaint about his injury was when he asked children not to sit on his knee. | |
'Careful with me bullet' | 'Careful with me bullet' |
Hull-born Mr Brown served with the East Yorkshire Regiment. | Hull-born Mr Brown served with the East Yorkshire Regiment. |
After the war, the Inland Revenue employee later moved to Exeter with his wife. | After the war, the Inland Revenue employee later moved to Exeter with his wife. |
His daughter, Jane Madden, said the metal fragments showed "how brave he was". | His daughter, Jane Madden, said the metal fragments showed "how brave he was". |
She said: "We were told he just had a bullet in his leg, because he would tell us: 'Careful with me bullet, it hurts'." | |
Staff at the crematorium in Exeter gave the shrapnel to Mrs Madden after the family requested it - not expecting a bag of metal fragments. | Staff at the crematorium in Exeter gave the shrapnel to Mrs Madden after the family requested it - not expecting a bag of metal fragments. |
Mrs Madden said: "It sounds macabre, but, after he died, we asked for what we thought was the bullet because my three daughters asked if we could just keep it as memento. | Mrs Madden said: "It sounds macabre, but, after he died, we asked for what we thought was the bullet because my three daughters asked if we could just keep it as memento. |
"We then got handed this bag of stuff." | "We then got handed this bag of stuff." |
Richard Powell, from the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities, said most coffins were built using screws and staples and some of these could have remained after a cremation. | |
'War hero' | |
Mrs Madden said the shrapnel did not seem to affect her father's mobility, although she added that it was a "long recovery" from his injures. | Mrs Madden said the shrapnel did not seem to affect her father's mobility, although she added that it was a "long recovery" from his injures. |
She said: "He used to have a stick while he was recovering from his injuries, but it [the shrapnel] only seemed to affect him in cold weather. | She said: "He used to have a stick while he was recovering from his injuries, but it [the shrapnel] only seemed to affect him in cold weather. |
"I don't think he knew how much was in his leg. He didn't see it. | "I don't think he knew how much was in his leg. He didn't see it. |
"The medics just said it was too close to an artery and stitched him back up again." | "The medics just said it was too close to an artery and stitched him back up again." |
The discovery had also reinforced the family's pride in their own war hero, she added. | The discovery had also reinforced the family's pride in their own war hero, she added. |
"At the time, we'd go: 'Oh, no. It's another war story', if he started telling us a story. But there's a lot of pride in the family about his service now," she said. | "At the time, we'd go: 'Oh, no. It's another war story', if he started telling us a story. But there's a lot of pride in the family about his service now," she said. |