RORY Bremner was 18 when his father died.

As with many of the Second World War generation, Donald Bremner did not talk much about his military service.

But when Rory worked with BBC television show ‘Who Do You think You Are?’ a story of astonishing bravery was uncovered.

Major Bremner risked his life by deliberately drawing enemy fire to flush out German positions in the Nazi-occupied Dutch city.

His actions, in October 1944, helped allied forces to liberate the city and to make the final push into Germany.

Last month, on the 65th anniversary of the battle, Rory visited the Dutch city to find out more about the story.

Although Rory was born in Edinburgh, Major Bremner was part of the East Lanc-ashire Regiment.

Hundreds of men from the regiment were involved in the battle in which 144 British troops died.

The men arrived at nearby Bergham on October 19 and gradually moved in on ’s-Hertogenbosch, a key comm-unication and transport area for the German troops.

On October 22 they adv-anced to Bruggen and, as light broke on the morning of October 24, the regiment launched an attack to claim ’s-Hertogenbosch.

When they were on the outskirts of the city, they began to come under heavy German fire and had to call for urgent help from the nearby Second Manch-ester Regiment.

During this time, Rory’s father made himself a target to locate the German positions and determine the stren-gth of enemy forces based on the number of rounds that were returned.

On his visit to Holland, Rory met Jos Ekal, a Red Cross medic who was stationed with the East Lanc-ashire Regiment.

“It’s extraordinary to hear somebody talking about my father in a way I had never heard before,” said Rory.

“It was like meeting a father that I never knew.

“It was a very special thing for me to meet somebody who knew him at the prime of his life.”

Ekal also said: “You can be very, very proud of your father. You can consider him as an army on his own.”

The story of Rory’s father is one of countless acts of bravery by East Lancashire soldiers over the years.

And the strong Remembrance Day tradition in East Lancashire will ensure they are never forgotten.