WHILE many of us have been enjoying Euro 2016, some of the trouble experienced before and after the England and Russia game have reminded David Bamber of a souvenir he has of the First World War.

He has a knife, which belonged to his father, Private Wm. Bamber of The Rifle Brigade who served in the war.

It is made from spent ammunition collected from the battlefield at LENS in 1915.

David said: “My father fought there for six months before being posted to Salonika in the Balkans.

“Later in 1917 his unit was again posted, but this time to the barracks near the Nothe Fort in Weymouth for rest and recuperation.

“Not much rest though, for they spent all their stay repairing the sea defences at Newtons Cove.”

“The postcard is dated 21st May 1917.

He added: “In those days we were only fighting the Germans, but now it seems we are fighting the Russians as well.”

Thank you to David for sharing the memories and photograph of his father.