Actor and TV presenter Ross Kemp's episode of Who Do You Think You Are? aired last Tuesday.
Much, though not all, of Ross' episode was focussed on his great-grandfather, 'Pop,' (short for 'Popeye,' because he was a sailor,) and his war-time service in the Merchant Navy.
The Merchant Navy is a civilian force of trade vessels - one which did vital work during both world wars in terms of supply chains and troop movements.
Ross was especially keen to find out why his mother seemed to have a memory of Pop returning from sea in a US army uniform
- something that I'm not going to spoil here, and which you'll have to watch the episode to get to the bottom of.
Other stand-out moments of the episode include the story of a previously unknown great-great-uncle who had a problem with alcohol that led to other problems.
...Not least the problems between himself and his parents and siblings, who were threatened by his often violent and unpredictable behaviour.
This was a solid episode on the approach to this series' half-way point, and certainly worth the watch if you have an interest in the history of seafaring and World War Two.
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