大象传媒

"I'm a pupil from Prudhoe Community High School, Northumberland, entering Biff Reeve's story onto the website, and theyfully understand the website terms and conditions of use".

For my piece i'm interviewing Biff Reeve, a Vetran who is prepared to share his memories with us now.
1.Do you remember anything about the day war was Declared?
A: Biff explains that he was a milkman at the time, He remembers that the sirens went off at 11o'clock on the 3rd of September 1939.
Biff was called up in August, and thought nothing of it. He was prepared to help. Biff was a Militia man and was called for his medical later.
On the 12th of December 1939, Biff was called up to Ipswitch. "It was BEAUTIFUL, there were 5 cinemas and 3 parks." From Ipswitch, Biff moved to Belford Hall, then to Lilburn towers, and then Stiford Hall. In September 1940, Biff went to Corbridge, and it was Beautiful!
Biff met a beautiful lady on a bridge, His very words were "Hello beautiful, i'm a stranger here can you show me the way to your house?" and later they become engaged on November 30th 1940.
Biff went to Malta and travelled all over the Country, for a total of about 3 years. There was little food, however the locals were nice people."The Maltese were wonderful!"
We are told about times when High fliers flew over Biff and his comrades, they thought nothing of it after the first few times.
There was a local port nearby, and Biff explains that there were supposed to be 17ships coming through however only 5 actually did get through.
Then there was a long trip on a train through the hot Desert to Tripoli.
Whilst there the Germans caught up with them and took them to Germany. When there, a German soldier asked Biff if he was from Cambridge "Yes" He replied "Ah i studied at Cambridge university!" Said the German officer, followed by "Good luck."
Biff and his Comrades were take3n to Stalag iv B, a prisoner of war camp, where they were fed Black bread and turnip soup.
There were 3 men per bunk, and 200 men per hut!The huts were cramped and uncomfortable. Biff tells me of a time when the RAF flew over head trying to shoot at a railway station nearby, however they blew the roof off of the hut!
When in the camp, Biff was told that work gained him more food!
Eventually when out of the camp Biff caught up with an American Soilder who took him and his frient to a place where they could eat whatever they felt like, until they were ready to go back to the British camp.
I asked Biff what training he was given, and as a Nurse, he was taught first aid, and how to cope in emergencies.
Biff was given some training about how to fight in the front line, as he had to fight in Malta!
Biff explains that he felt proud to be helping his country however much he didn't want to be there." All the men were in the same boat!"
Biff told me that his uniform consisted of Karki 'overalls', and a medic's hat.He also got given a first-aid kit for himself, a kit bag and some ground sheets.
There were cooks to provide the troops with food that would give them energy, for the long days ahead.
Biff explained how his letters were sensored so that no inportant information could be given away to the Germans, therefore the letters to his family had to be short and sweet.
I was told that when under fire if you hear the whistle of the bomb first, then your safe, however if you don't hear it then you had to be prepared.
There was one incident where a bomb landed however in never exploded, it in still there todat in Mosta. I can actually still remember going there as a little girl, seeing that bomb in the middle of a huge hall.
I asked Biff what his rank was and he said, "Private, just a private." I was told that he was a bit of a rebel, but everyone loved him for it.
I asked Biff what was it like on D-Day, and he replied "Well i had just came out of the Prisoner of war camp, I went to Newcastle with my Wife (the girl on the bridge), and we saw people parading singing and dancing, Everyone was overjoyed!"
Biff has kept in touch with people he knew and is good friends with his old pals!
Biff explaines that men from the allied forces were very friendly, "Beautiful, very nice!". I'm told of a Corpral who used to sing and he always cheered people up and make them look on the bright side.
No-one had any enemies, they didn't want any, the best possible thing to do was to keep friendly with everyone you knew!
There were a limited number of ways in which you could find something fun to do, however Biff did! Table Tennis! He was brilliant, a true star!
Biff tells me that the war was bad, however it was not as people have described it. True the conditions could get bad, but he met some very nice people along the way, especially the Maltese!
Biff has shown me his medals, and i've got to say, they're amazing, I look up to Biff as he tells me the story as it actually was, and he doesn't talk of himself as if it was him who saved everyone, he shows me that by sticking together he succeeded in helping his country.

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