IN reply to Mr Philip Beaven's remarks (letters, EA, Jan 28) He's No Child.

Like many other young men in Swindon and throughout the country in 1914 and during the war, my father, Reg Cook, aged 16, and a well known character in Swindon, joined the Royal Engineers by altering his birth certificate.

Although only a Swindon railway works fitter and turner apprentice, he volunteered to drive a steam train in Salonica it was carrying loaves of bread which he never saw throughout the war and his engine fireman was a PoW.

The point is that his five-and-a-half years' service didn't stop him from fooling around years later particularly in the dark days of World War Two.

I suggest Philip Beaven's disrespectful tone in his letter was uncalled for.

P W COOK

Vanbrugh Gate

Broome Manor

Swindon