A retired school teacher who recently discovered her parent’s sweetheart wartime promise, to marry in a church near Andover, will be taking part in the Cenotaph Remembrance parade this Sunday.

Dale Budzynski’s father served in the British Army for twelve years, from 1933 to 1945. He seldom spoke about his service and gave very little detail if ever asked.

The only detail she knew: her mother promised to marry him if he returned as a Sergeant.

The couple married at St. James’ Church, Ludgershall.

(Image: SAAFA)

In honour of her father who served in the Second World War, she will be marching past the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday on behalf of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

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Dale’s mother passed away in 2004. It was while sorting through her belongings Dale found a pile of photo albums, poetry, and letters her father had sent to her mother while serving in WWII.

Suddenly Dale had a window into her father’s world, uncovered after decades in storage.

She discovered he spent time in many regions, particularly in the Middle East where he contracted malaria.

He survived a gunshot because of his cigarette case, kept a dog while patrolling the desert, learned to ride a camel, and so many more things Dale had never known about her father.

Dale continued: “My father explored many beautiful places and lived quite the life during his tours of duty. All of his stories were backed up by lovely photos, annotated on the reverse with little jokes and quips. I treasure them still.”

Dale was in her 30th year as a teacher at the time. After retiring ten years later in 2014, she began volunteering in outreach support in a few local schools but decided she wanted to give more to her community.

While she was starting her voluntary work in Aldershot, Dale thought back to the photos of her father and remembered him mentioning SSAFA. She contacted her local branch in Andover, where she met Colonel Mike Sibbons.

After learning more about the charity, Dale became a caseworker for SSAFA and will be taking part in the parade in London at the Cenotaph this Sunday.