[Margaret Pilkington]

Yes, you could be right, but I would hazard a guess that even way back then. You were an inquisitive boy. Yes,it may have provoked more questions. Questions that perhaps he did not want to go into.
My grandfather fought in WW1 and even when he had had a few gills(he couldn't hold ale) he could not be drawn on any of the things he saw or experienced. He used to say 'that's for me to know and thee to wonder about'.

As children we didn't need to be saddled with this information. (That does not mean we should ever forget.)