Minnie Driver Sees Grandmother For First Time | Who Do You Think You Are

[@johngolombek61]

Miss Driver your father was fighting battles in silence for many years . On a open field you saw a beautiful land scape. He saw the rushing of the wind and heard the roar of the engines as another mission was about to start . I know he is out there with his mates flying in tight formation in a peaceful sky.

[@serpentines6356]

Ah, that's beautiful! 🙏 💜 🇺🇲

[@elizabethbrown8833]

What a beautiful comment 🙏💜🇬🇧🌌

[@nahtayrome6007]

Now that is a comment

[@thomas6163]

thank you, Driver family for sharing these sacred memories with us... blessings and peace.

[@shelygrimmer3344]

Miss Driver, your dad was paying tribute to the men he served with. He chucked the metal to share the honor with his friends. Even with the mental issues, your dad honored them. Thank you for sharing this road you you traveled and the love that you showed in honoring your dad. Mr.Driver I hope to buy you a beer in Valah when I get there.

[@keithwalker5078]

it's actually typical called survivor's guilt that someone THEY survived when so many very close friends and comrades didn't. especially in the british bombing corps where they lost so many many brave young boys. my uncle had a scar that I didn't learn till his funeral that it was from fire in WW 2 bomber that was shot up and he had to parachute from.

[@sunshinegal4294]

Wow! What a hero and story. My heart goes out to him to go through all of this at a young age of 18! Minnie should and is be very proud of her dad.

[@tecolote59]

So very sad and happy at the same time. I'm glad Ms. Driver was able to learn all this about her dad, and that it brings her some moments of happiness. He was a handsome fellow - and her mum was a real beauty. I like Minne now, even more than before, which is quite difficult to imagine.

[@kimberli2391]

So glad you are able to learn more about your father. So sorry he suffered for his heroic act. Happy that he obviously recovered and was able to share love with you mother and you.

[@su-rv2uq]

You do know he was married and had another family while he was having Minnie and her siblings with her mother, then left her mother?

[@beachliving3127]

He hit and quit it.

[@smokedoliver1]

There you go Minnie. See that your fathers story gets produced instead of that crap Hollywood turns out. Your Dad is an inspiration and his spry deserves to be told. God Bless you.

[@busterdee8228]

The whole thing is worthy of it.

[@agrring8259]

Love Minnie's family story. Brave beautiful people.

[@serpentines6356]

He got a happy ending though. He got to see, and play with his grandson before he died. That's pretty wonderful.

[@teammosin9999]

It is so touching to see you explore the unknown in your family. The Brits do a marvelous job of saving individual documentation of their many, many war heros.

[@rolanddeschain965]

My great uncle was killed in world War 1 during the battle of belleau (spelling) wood. I can't learn anything about him as a large amount of those records were lost in a fire. I know he was hit with shrapnel and like so many others, mustard gas. Incredibly frustrating to not be able to know what happened.

[@billhaigney5080]

To see your grandma's picture when you've never set eyes on it...

[@mizofan]

Minnie's dad was born in Swansea as i was, in 1921 as my dad was, he was illegimate as i and Minnie are, he was in psychiatric hospital as my mum was, and he was married to my mum's cousin Anne, daughter of Sir Edward Wilshaw and my great auntie Myn. Minnie's mum was his mistress for years. I wish Minnie much happiness.

[@rodanderson8490]

Minnie Driver has always been one of my favorite movie stars. I'm a 76 year old US Army veteran so that covers a lot of time. This video makes me love her even more. What an awesome lady.

[@georgielancaster1356]

The unspoken description of the rear gunner, his best mate, that they could not get out of the plane, could hide absolute horror. The rear gunner was the most likely to be killed and sometimes, remains were HOSED out of plane. It isn't just a matter of not being able to get a body out. I don't want to be even more graphic, but given this was his best friend, what he faced could have been catastrophic to sanity. He appeared to have AG (I have very old eyes), in the head of the wing on his uniform, at his first wedding. So he was another air gunner. So I guess mid upper gunner, as his mate on same plane, was rear gunner? So to qualify as promoted to Pilot Officer, then Flying Officer, with a DFM, (other ranks equivalent of a DFC), awarded near the start of the war, he must have been considered exceptional.

[@allywolf9182]

Thank you for your service!

[@diansheffield6550]

Your dad was a hero and so humble. Bless him.

[@leighabbott105]

Such a strong resemblance to her grandmother!

[@RichardSmith-qw7kh]

Hi pretty lady. How are you doing today????

[@briezzy365]

What an amazing story. I’m thankful she was able to share it.

[@robertmccardle5113]

57,205 brave souls grave their lives in service of Bomber Command. Hero's one and all .

[@Tawadeb]

My grandfather came over from New Zealand as a bomber pilot in 1941. He was one of 12 men. Only him and a wounded man came home. The other 10 did not. They gave everything for freedom

[@robertmccardle5113]

@@Tawadeb Both my Dad and his brother served in bomber command. My dad completed a tour of ops . My uncle Grant was KIA April 16/17 1943 on a raid of the Skoda iron works , Pilsen Czechoslovackia. Both had joined Royal Canadian Air Force yet flew with RAF.

[@matthewpayne42]

It was 55.752 who lost their lives in bomber command.

[@Lone_GamerUK]

I suspect not only the bad memory's & any PTSD I suspect he had survivor's guilt when his best friend didn't make it in the battle and he then gets given a medal, lorded as a hero (which many were and he is to us) but they didn't want medals they feel the hero’s are the ones that didn't survive or come home. It’s an important lesson for us all to learn and most of us don't have any idea about what out earlier generations did or who they were.

[@hypknowthismofo4604]

Combat on matter if in the air, ground or sea...is an intense experience, to say the least. In combat, you see and do things...you can't unsee or unfeel. If her father was having issues, he was in the right place. I speak from experience... without help, I would be in a bad way mentally...Physically I'm a mess, getting constant help for that though. Her father, seemed to come out of it...in a decent way!! A definite Hero!!!

[@serpentines6356]

Thank you for sharing that. It's very truthful, and real. Prayers, and Blessings for you! 🙏 💜 🌿

[@hypknowthismofo4604]

@@serpentines6356 Thank You Blessings to you..as well!!!

[@demondogmom7221]

My father was on the USS Wasp when it sunk in WWII. He was a non-swimmer and had serious survivor's guilt that his friends died and he didn't. Your father was blessed to have psychiatric care. My father didn't and suffered with PTSD most of his life. Looking back with that knowledge changes my perspective of him from an angry man to a haunted man. This knowledge of your father may explain things you didn't fully understand.

[@thesweetlife9621]

I see an award winning screenplay written and directed by Minnie Driver coming

[@rondecambio7375]

Minnie your more beautiful than ever!!!

[@manofiske3318]

Keep in mind that this account was produced almost a decade ago. The ravages of age have, in the meantime, obviously continued to exact their merciless, toll.

[@rondecambio7375]

A good vintage keeps, well after it's put in the bottle.I know ,I live in Tuscana.

[@Rescue-mt7fl]

I DOES read as a movie script. It SHOULD be a movie!!

[@RetNemmoc555]

I agree, his story should be told in film, but with care and nuance.

[@Michaelmahony43]

I was thinking the same thing. She could direct this film and share her fathers story!

[@Rescue-mt7fl]

@@RetNemmoc555 care and respect for the worlds hero’s is something the movie industry forgets at times. I couldn’t agree more with your simple statement. I hope someone takes these statements to heart and helps a new generation to remember the sacrifices of another generation.

[@keystone117]

It’s ironic that he was celebrated for his actions on what was likely the most horrifying day of his life. From another video in this series with Ms. Driver, we learn Mr. Driver’s best mate was killed in the tail gunner position and they had to leave the body in the sinking aircraft, after ditching. As brilliant as Mr. Driver’s actions were that day, I have no doubt he wanted to forget it, forever.

[@jcee6886]

You just get more beautiful Minnie.

[@patriciajrs46]

That newspaper article for her father's commendation was on my Dad's birthday, he was 15 on that date.

[@MagnoliaEmporium]

it really would make a great script.... I hope Minnie writes her dads story.... "Flying Driver"

[@sillysausage2244]

Her father was dealing with a lot more than just notoriety...

[@cavman7]

Pausing the video 3:49, it appears he continued on with his military service after hospital.

[@haddockpaddock]

Indeed, but after a gap of 4 years, it seems....

[@serpentines6356]

@@madisntit6547 Yes, in the other KZbin video it shows her dad went back in.

[@georgielancaster1356]

Yes. He rose to Flying Officer, which is pretty good as an air gunner, I think he was. The photo for his first wedding shows him wearing his DFM ribbon, even if he had thrown away the medal, and it looks like an AG on the head of the single wing, identifying position on bomber. The pilot has 2 wings, so easily identified. My eyes are ancient, and I can't get picture bigger, but it appears to be AG. Early on, the position of navigator/bombaimer was called Observer. So men had an O in the circle. (They called it the Flying A*sehole) After a certain date, (can't remember) Observer was split into Navigator and Bombaimer. Navigator had an N in the circle, etc. He had another session in a different military psychiatric hospital, but then got promoted to Pilot Officer, then to Flying Officer. So some of that gap would be some top up training as an officer to be...

[@lizlee6290]

@@georgielancaster1356 Goodness, thank you for this wonderful history lesson. As a retired librarian, I still have the "research bug". I always have to look things up. Thanks for doing a bit of it for me. "My eyes are ancient" made me smile.!

[@Sevaanmeneemuteimeeonneks]

What a story...

[@martynnotman3467]

My home town of Stockton!

[@Tawadeb]

Pretty sad he lost his best friend and was wounded.

[@colinjones7741]

If he was born in Wales then he is Welsh, never the less a brave man.

[@tawnyschlienz9063]

Seems to be that Minnie's father was much older when she was born. Bcuz she's in her 50s now. Interesting history.

[@AintNoFool]

I have Drivers in my ancestry as well. Coming from England several hundred years ago. Hmmm

[@lisanancollas2330]

She looks like her grandmother.

[@elizabethbennet4791]

wait what year is this, why did youtube delete dates?????

[@AQUAFONIC]

It’s says February! 2022

[@mapatriot7149]

How does Minnie have a dad who served in WW2?? How old was he when Minnie was born?

[@lizlee6290]

Her dad was born in 1921, Minnie was born in 1970. He would have been about 49 years old when Minnie was born. Not unheard of.

[@malcdaley5267]

My mam was born in 1925 and served in ww2 . i was born in 1966 ,she had me at 42

[@bonniegeesey4508]

There no one in my family named Minnie either

[@Paul-lm5gv]

There are other videos in this series that shed more light on her father in WWII.

[@Vert-r5h]

I am surprised she knows so little about her father. I lived with dad for 25 years after mum died. Why move from a bungalow to a council flat. I know ore about my great great grandfathers on mum's side (grandmother's grandads) who were born in 1840 one grandad was a Glaswegian boilermaker - it's as if she doesn't care.

[@mizofan]

partly cos unusual situation, his being married to another woman (my mum's cousin Anne), not Minnie's mum. It seems he was quite secretive about his background, family.

[@heatherspence3848]

This is all bonkers. Happy cry’s !

[@elizabethbennet4791]

oooh can i come to england and trace my ancestry too if Im an american?

[@ericmarin6454]

Spitting image 🤔

[@paulharris3149]

Mini John cooper works driver

[@moneygetter4826]

SO HOLLY MULLIGAN WAS NOT MY FATHERS FATHER .?

[@bustedfender]

Thought she’d at least drive a mini.

[@nathanroberts355]

One famous b17f memphis belle flew 25 bombing missions in ww2

[@angelameyer3709]

Many were in psych wards. After what they experienced, PTSD was common. And, he lost a dear friend. 🫣😞😢