More in Common

A war hero and an unknown soldier; both died fighting on opposite sides. Yet each of their children - my parents - would go on to make peace in their own way years later.?

My American grandfather was one of the first onto the beach at D-Day. As part of the 2nd Rangers Battalion, they were tasked with scaling 100 feet cliffs under fire to take out one of the most dangerous German defensive positions. He survived the so-called longest day itself only to be killed by friendly fire the day after. Only 90 of the 220 men in his battalion survived.?

Last week my family and I went to visit his grave and were particularly touched to find a full tribute to him in the Pointe Du Hoc museum. Apparently I was the first direct descendent they had met as most of the Rangers were too young to have children. They had been trained for over a year in problem solving, independent action and improvisation which I strive to emulate two generations later.

Two days later we visited the German cemetery in Normandy where 20,000 soldiers are buried. It was understandably somber and I was drawn to the grave of one unknown German solider.

My German grandfather went missing in action in 1944 and his body was never found. My grandmother never really talked about him and my primary feelings towards him are shame and sadness. My mother grew up wondering if he may come back one day. That deep uncertainty had a profound impact upon us all.?

Having grown up in the UK with its own culture and history deeply defined through the events of World War 2 as well, I feel torn by these different and opposing stories of my own history, with both grandfathers fighting and dying on opposite sides.?

The futility of war has never felt so visceral yet through this recent trip I also feel connected of the grandfathers I never knew. And along the way we learned a French expression namely that phrase “La liberté n'est pas libre!”; freedom is not free.?

In an increasingly polarised world, I take comfort in the fact that these two soldiers, now posthumously have far more in common than that which once divided them.?

And ever since I spoke with Gemma Mortensen who is a Chair of More in Common , I have been particularly drawn to their mission namely to understand the forces driving us apart, and to find common ground and help to bring people together to tackle our shared challenges.

Finding out what connects us and bridging the chasms which divide, is definitely worth fighting for. This recent trip has only reinforced that feeling for me, for which I’m existentially grateful.?