Remembrance: “I wear my father’s medals with pride on Remembrance Day”

Squadron Leader Kenneth George Price DFC was a skilled navigator in Bomber Command in the Second World War. From being shot down in a de Havilland Mosquito in July 1943 and parachuting safely onto Dutch soil, to being held in a prisoner of war camp and playing his part in The Great Escape in March 1944; Kenneth’s commitment to his country was invaluable.

For Kenneth’s son Alistair Price, his father’s legacy has inspired his continued support of the Fund. Alistair wrote a book on his father and his experiences in the war during the Coronavirus lockdown and holds regular talks on his father’s legacy. Alistair generously donates all profits from his book and proceeds from his talks to the Fund.

We spoke to Alistair about what his father’s legacy means to him for Remembrance Day.

What does Remembrance Day mean to you?
Remembrance Day means an awful lot to me. It means I can wear my father’s medals on the righthand side of my jacket. It means that we remember those who are no longer with us, although my father wasn’t killed in the war. I think it's very important, particularly for the younger generation, who may not have a close connection to the Second World War, but we can think of all those who have served in more recent conflicts and continue to serve today.

How does your father’s legacy impact you on Remembrance Day?
I think of him, and I wish he was still here. Remembrance Day is a day to remember everyone who has taken part in a war, in my case in the Second World War. But for me it’s about remembering my father who was a really nice guy, and he was a good mate of mine. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1943 for his bravery, and I am very proud of that.

Why is the Fund important to you?
The Fund is important to me because it’s a cause my father was passionate about from the end of the Second World War. Anything he was involved in throughout his life in terms of raising money for charity, his focus was on the Fund. He specifically said before he died, he wanted any money raised from his funeral service to go to the RAF Benevolent Fund which we did. And so, everything I do in terms of charity, I make it my priority to personally support the Fund because I believe in the work that you do.

Why do you believe it is important to preserve World War Two memories?
It was a period of sacrifice; a lot of people gave up their lives to protect Britain from tyranny. But we must still think of others in wars thereafter like Korea in the 50s, Afghanistan and Iraq for example. We have a lot to be thankful for.

You can read more stories of Remembrance here.