A Tribute to my Dad.

[La♔De♔Da♔Brigadier Graham]

An anecdote about my dad who passed away recently and I read at his funeral!

Tribute!

I think the best way I’d like to remember dad here today is to relate an adventure he had, down under, in the 1950's and which could easily have caused a diplomatic incident.


The thing about my dad is that in later years he was a quiet, unassuming man with a wit and dry humour about him, however, a lot of people may not know, that when he was younger, he was a "bit of a lad" and managed to get himself into a spot of bother on occasion.


A story he told me as a youngster sticks in my mind, about when he served as a young lad in the merchant Navy on general cargo ships, going all around the world.


Once when in port in Sydney Australia, on shore-leave, he and his mates were doing what all matlows and servicemen do, have bloody good time and a good piss-up! They ran into a group of Aussie Navy, and a fracas ensued, after that the Naval patrol police took my dad and his mates to the jail for the night.


Next morning in front of the magistrate (still the the worse for wear)dad was charged with affray and breach of the peace. . . the magistrate told my dad off and said:


" You’re not a good example for your country Mr Graham and you can’t come here and cause trouble with your criminal behavour. Your fined $2" (which was a lot of money in those days)


Quick as a flash my dad said –


"WHAT!! $2? you upside down bastard! Your grandfather came over here with a ball and chain and you call me a criminal!"


The magistrate without blinking an eye said:


"for that outburst Mr Graham you’re fined $6, and deported from Australia!"


How proud am I of my dad?

[Owlparrot3]

Welcome here man ,thanks for posting it here as i asked .

[♔Old Dragoon♔]

Welcome Geordie old boy! Bravo again old stick as I still shed a man tear whilst reading and all that...

[Alwyn]

Bravo, indeed! It sounds like your Dad was both witty and daring, engaging in that kind of banter in court!

[NorseThing]

A great post. We all have a dad somewhere perhaps in some unknown location or perhaps as close as in the same home. I am glad you shared this with us.