A WOMAN who discovered a treasure trove of family memories has published a book about her uncle's experiences in the Second World War. 

Karen Yates, of North Scale on Walney, came across her uncle's story after discovering his diary and a box of old letters and photographs at her parents' home. 

Through reading the letters, Mrs Yates happened across the harrowing story of a 22-year-old man - her uncle who was sent to North Africa during the final years of the war - and felt compelled to tell his story.

Mrs Yates said: "My mum and dad became ill at the same time and needed to go into care. 

"I was sorting things out and found a big box full of letters, a diary and photos. 

"I felt I was meant to tell his story. I'm not a big believer of things but I think I had to open that box for a reason - people were meant to hear his story."

Charlie Robinson was born in 1917 in Hyde in Cheshire but was called up for active duty in 1940 at the age of 22. 

Shipped out to North Africa on a Barrow-built ship named Awatea, Mr Robinson covered more than 1,000 miles of terrain by serving his time as a wireless operator before being blown up in 1943, the day before the official surrender of North Africa.

Mrs Yates, a 70-year-old secretary for the Furness Lions, was moved by her uncle's tale and the stories of sacrifice from people at home and spent four and a half years penning a book called Snowdrops for a Soldier.

She said: "I think it was a nice thing to do for the family and it's in memory of my grandma and granddad. 

"I remember in their house there was a big picture of Uncle Charlie and a vase of flowers next to him.

"The year started off with snowdrops and as the year went on the vase of flowers got bigger."

She continued: "My mum is 94 at lives in St Cuthbert's Nursing Home. 

"She has dementia but when I took her a copy of the book she recognised him and she cried. 

"They were very close. He was her older brother and they looked out for eachother."

As a new grandmother to a little boy also named Charlie, Mrs Yates is delighted to preserve her uncle's story and memories of the war for her children and grandchildren and to help make sure no-one forgets the atrocities of the war. 

She said: "It's very important to keep their stories alive. The younger generation need to learn about the sacrifices made, not just by soldiers, but the families left behind at home. 

"I have dedicated the book to my grandchildren to pass on that message."

She continued: "Charlie wasn't a hero.

"He wasn't a decorated hero but he was a hero because he put up with these conditions. 

"I think he was a kind-hearted man and the last person who should go to war but he did his duty."

Fact file on the Awatea

CHARLIE Robinson travelled to Africa in a Barrow-built ship called the Awatea. 

  • The Awatea was built in 1936 at Barrow shipyard
  • She was a cruise ship commissioned by a New Zealand Cruise company. 
  • Awatea is Maori for Eye of the Dawn. 
  • During the war she was used to transport soldiers from Clyde in Scotland to Durban in South Africa. Soldiers were then transferred to Egypt.
  • In 1942 she was carrying a cargo in Bougie in Algiers and was heading back out to sea when she was attacked by a German torpedo and an ordinary bomb. She didn't go down straight away but managed to shoot down and destroy a German fighter plane. 
  • She finally sank a few hours later but the crew and captain managed to escape to safety.