A hero's return

Fred Zimmerman, now 81, was barely 18 when he was sent to the Greek island of Kastelorizo with the Royal Navy as a telegraphist and coder in 1942 for a three-year stint.

But he could recall the intensity of the occasion with crystal clarity when he was transported back there more than 60 years on.

Mr Zimmerman received a National Lottery funded Heroes Return Fund grant, which pays for war veterans who served in the Second World War, their families or friends, to revisit the most dramatic and poignant days of their lives with a battlefield tour or pilgrimage.

He recalled: "Our base was really a refilling station for the ships which were on their way to and from Alexandria.

"Back then the island was almost deserted because a hundred or so Greek families were sent to Australia by the Germans."

He added: "I was lucky. Because I did well in my exams I was able to choose my base and so I chose Plymouth, which is how I ended up out there.

"I just wanted to be as far away from London as I could get at the time.

"We were on the Flyer Class Corvette, which was seconded to the Greek Navy."

Fred's wife was not keen to make the journey because of the heat, so he took a friend.

"I asked my friend Barry if he wanted to come as I'd been given £875 for 10 days. We travelled to Rhodes, which is the nearest place we could get to from the island.

"I think the fund is a good idea but the government hasn't done much to promote it.

"I do know someone at the bowling club who received one though.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Greece and exchanged presents with the Mayor while wearing my veteran's badge, which I am very proud of."

Afterwards he reported back to the fund on his experiences, although no more applications are being received by the Veterans Agency.

Fred still thinks of fallen comrades and their families. This weekend he will be out on the streets selling poppies for the Poppy Appeal as a token of his appreciation.

First published: November 3, 2005