大象传媒

My father was one of the many who was simply missing presumed dead during the evacuation from Dunkirk. He was in the Black Watch and their Association took a photograph of him in case he had been taken prisoner and was in one of the camps. However, after no news for six months, my mother was automatically given a War Widow's Pension. We didn't know what had happened to him - none of his belongings were ever found- wedding ring, watch, papers, etc.

Years later (twelve, to be exact) the family (mother, sister and myself) were allocated a new council house (we had been living in one room). After moving in, we put up a photograph of my father (in bandsman's uniform, taken in India). One day the council plasterer came to do some work on the house; he saw the picture and said 'That's Smudger'. Apparently, he had been on the beach at Dunkirk with my father in 1940; he was able to tell us that my father had apparently stood on a mine on the beach and had his legs blown off (presumably he died there). Although upset, at least the family could grieve properly and knew what had happened. My mother was a war widow for fifty years until her death in 1990. It was only when I was married and had family of my own and saw the original film Dunkirk that I had some idea of what she must have suffered.

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