Sheldon war hero finds shrapnel in his mouth after 65 years
WAR hero Alfred Mann was left speechless when a piece of shrapnel fell out of his mouth – after 65 years.
The 87-year-old, from Sheldon, who served with the Royal Army Medical Corps has struggled to speak and eat properly since he was injured in an explosion in 1944.
Just weeks ago he was shocked to wake up and find the half inch piece of metal had dislodged from his jaw.
Alf, who lives with wife Constance in Brean Avenue, said: “I can’t believe the shrapnel came out after 65 years. I do have very small bits of shrapnel in my hands and a piece dislodged out of my shoulder two years after I returned from war but I had no idea that it was in my jaw and causing me so many problems.
“I could hardly open my mouth before and it caused problems with my speech.
“A few weeks ago my mouth began to swell up. I went to the doctors and I was referred onto the dentist who said I had an ulcer. Then I woke up one morning and felt something move in my mouth. There was blood everywhere and I discovered a piece of shrapnel which had dislodged from my mouth.
“It’s fantastic now, I feel like I have been given a new lease of life. I can move my mouth properly and I have been able to eat steak and lamb cutlets which I couldn’t eat before.”
Alf joined the army in 1941 despite his desire to join the navy with best friend Harry who later died in combat at the age of 20.
