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Agent's war hero grandad inspires epic Ukraine aid mission

Europe
Will Payne
21 April 2022

An agent, spurred on by his grandad’s stories of bravery, courage and self-sacrifice in the Second World War, is gearing up for a near-1,500 mile drive to Poland to deliver a van load of supplies to a group of Ukrainian refugees.

Neil Crawford (front centre left) with some of the Ukrainian refugees he has helped find a home in Poland. Some faces have been blurred for security reasons

Neil Crawford, director of Leeds-based Farsley Travel, told TTG about how his grandfather’s wartime exploits inspired him to do something to support those affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

"I was really close to my grandad when he was alive, he used to tell me some really interesting stories about the Second World War and I got to know all about it," Crawford said.

"When the Ukraine crisis came up, I just felt the inspiration, the urge to do my bit, to do my duty. Of course, this isn’t like anything my grandad or the other soldiers faced. I’m just donating clothing – he spent six years fighting.