two-men-two-wars

Bangor Grammar School past pupil Alastair Walker (1955-62) is the author of a recently published book, Two Men Two Wars, which tells the stories of two men, his father, Alec Walker, and his uncle, Norman Hanna.
Alec fought in a Scottish regiment in World War 1 and was wounded, overcome with gas and captured in April 1918. Following repatriation he came to live in Bangor and during World War 2 became Home Guard Sergeant in charge of an AA battery at Ballymacormick.
After leaving Bangor Grammar School (which he had attended from 1934), Norman Hanna emigrated to join his brother in Canada, surviving the sinking of the Athenia on 3 September 1939 on the way.
He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and was posted to Castle Archdale in Fermanagh, flying Sunderland flying boats from Lough Erne to attack U-boats in the Atlantic. Unfortunately he was lost when his plane disappeared in December 1943 en route to Gibraltar.
The book was written primarily to pass the story on to future generations of the family and only a small number have been printed. A few are available for anyone interested in purchasing one and £2 of the price (£7) will go to the Royal British Legion.
Alastair entered BGS in 1955, his brother Colin having been Head Boy the previous year. His career was in education, beginning as a Chemistry teacher and finishing in 2004 as Head of Education Services with CCEA.
A lifelong interest in ships and the sea resulted in a book, Four Thousand Lives Lost (History Press 2012), on the inquiries chaired by Lord Mersey into the sinking of four liners from 1912-15. He lives in Bangor and he and his wife have a daughter and a son.
• Bangor Grammarians will forward any enquiries about Two Men Two Wars to Alastair.