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Introduction

This article has been submitted by Joseph Ritson, a volunteer story-gatherer for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ "People's War" website on behalf of the Radio Cumbria CSV Action Desk volunteers. On Remembrance Sunday, 13 November 2005, there were a number of commemorative services throughout West Cumbria when the victims of the World Wars and other conflicts past and present were remembered.

A number of World War Two veterans attended the Remembrance events. This account of World War Two is submitted on behalf of Mr Tom Fitzsimons from Whitehaven, Cumbria who served in the Armed Forces during World War Two. I have known Tom for many years and it was a privilege to listen to some of his wartime experiences.

Tom's wartime story was obtained following a Memorial Service held on the afternoon of Remembrance Day at St Begh's Church, Coach Road, Whitehaven. The terms of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ "People's War" website have been read and understood.

The Workington train

Tom was called up to the army in 1940. It all began with a train journey from his hometown of Whitehaven to Workington, approximately 8 miles further up the coast. Also on the train was another Whitehaven fellow he knew, Edward Mackin. They went to Workington Drill Hall and went through all the particulars to get signed up. Tom got assigned to the Royal Artillery (1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment) while Edward was sent to a different infantry regiment.

When they had both finished going through the formalities, Edward suggested to Tom they celebrated by going for a drink. When they went into Workington, they found the pubs were all closed. By this time it was after 3 o'clock, which was closing time in those days. So, they had to come back home on the train without drinking a celebratory toast.

After that, Tom never saw Edward again as they had to go their separate ways. Towards the end of the war, Edward was killed not long before the end of the war, in March 1945, and is buried in Reichswald Forest Cemetery in Germany. Edward is one of those named on the World War Two Memorial outside St Begh's Church, Whitehaven. He is one of the friends that Tom thinks about, particularly at Remembrance time.

Some wartime memories

Not long after he had joined the Forces, Tom had the privilege of going to see a lot of the top musical acts of the time, including Ann Shelton and the Ambrose Orchestra. One time, Tom remembers another young up-and-coming singer being introduced to them, someone he had not heard before. This singer's name was Vera Lynn who would soon become known to everyone as 'The Forces Sweetheart'.

Tom served with the 1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment and saw action in Italy. Tom remembers this as a long, hard and very costly campaign. His unit was part of the British Eighth Army, who were reputedly labelled as 'D-Day Dodgers' by the politician Lady Nancy Astor because they happened to be in Italy at the time of the Normandy Landings. Tom has a copy of a version of 'The Ballad of the D-Day Dodgers', written by Eighth Army soldiers as a riposte to Lady Astor.

After six years in the army, Tom was demobbed in 1946 and he returned home to Whitehaven. Each year, he pays his respects to friends and comrades who died during World War Two by attending Remembrance Services. As he does each year, on Sunday 13 November 2005, Tom laid a poppy cross in front of the World War Two Memorial at St Begh's Church.

In June 2005, Tom was one of about 1000 World War Two veterans who took part in the official county of Cumbria 'Victory Parade' that was held in Whitehaven on 26 June 2005. After marching through the streets of Whitehaven the veterans went to a commemorative service at Whitehaven harbour, where Tom had a good view of the proceedings.

Conclusion

In recent years, I have met Tom at a number of services remembering those who lost their lives during the World Wars. Tom still remembers those friends of his who lost their lives during the war. There are, of course, many happier memories of comradeship and having had the opportunity to listen to Vera Lynn and Ann Shelton. A train journey to Workington in 1940 was only the start of a journey to so many far-away places and a wide variety of experiences.

Tom’s friend Edward Mackin who was called up to the Forces on the same day as Tom was killed on 27 March 1945. At that time, Edward was serving in the 7th Battalion The Somerset Regiment.

It has been a great honour to write this article on behalf of Tom, an Eighth Army veteran and one of Lady Astor's 'D-Day Dodgers'. And, yes, we did manage to laugh about the 'Ballad of the D-Day Dodgers', even though we didn't burst into song!

Thank you, Tom!

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