In spring last year Reading Force launched a Memoir Writing Competition and invited members of the armed forces community to get their experiences down on paper. The competition was open to everyone – serving, veteran, spouses, partners, children and young people.
The charity was overwhelmed with the amazing response and the breadth of experiences shared, from the excitement of a new country, what it takes to change school and home again and again and research about lost loved ones, to waiting for a serving family member to come home and the highs and lows of serving. The recollections were told with humour, pride, hurt and lots of love.
The first prize in each service in the Children & Young People category is publication in the Army, RAF and Navy Families Federation magazines, judged by the editors of each magazine.
Evie Evans, aged 15, won first prize and you can read her fantastic entry A Soldier’s Love below. Thank you, Evie, for sharing your story.
A Soldier’s Love
By Evie Evans
Khaki clothes and quiet goodbyes, my dad in his uniform, under brave skies. He was strong like a mountain, always in my mind, a brave lion, caring for all mankind.
Like a strong tree, he stood tall and true. Helping his country, in places far new. His duty, a guide, showing him the way, always helping others, comes what may.
While I slept soundly, a doll in my bed, he was like an angel, where danger had spread. Saving lives, a quiet, brave thing he’d do, a hero’s choice, sometimes making him blue.
But home he’d come back, with a tired smile. My dad, my safe place, worth every long mile. The sound of his boots, a memory I keep, a soldier’s love, buried so deep.
Evie says: “I wrote this poem as being a military child for a lot of my life has affected me in many different ways. I dedicated this poem to my dad specifically because, as a child, I was very close with him, and every time he came home from his deployment, he would tell me stories about how he was one of the country’s heroes, saving people’s lives, and that he would protect me, like he did in any other country he would get deployed to.”
Joint second prize winners are Christopher, aged eight, for My Camping Adventures, and Abi Jones, aged 18, for Military Child. Well done to all the winners and entrants.
The adult first prize winner, yet to be announced, will receive a publishing deal from Pen & Sword Books.
Reading Force would like to thank the Families Federations, Bolt Burdon Kemp Solicitors and Pen & Sword Books for supporting the competition.