Robert had won the Victoria Cross four times. Four times! To receive it once was phenomenal. To get it twice was doubly astonishing. To earn it a third time was unheard of. But fourth! Goodness!
The Victoria Cross is the highest honour for bravery awarded to members of the armed forces of British Commonwealth countries.
The marvel wasn’t just that Robert had been extraordinary brave four times, it was also that he’d been in the right place at the right time. Once, for example, he’d jumped on a bus load of French children as it ran out of control down a hill towards the enemy camp.
“There’s a fine line between being brave and being nuts,” said Robert. His bravery came with humility! The guy was a hero.
Years later, when his son married an African, Robert disowned him. He didn’t have the guts for that.