大象传媒

Without any doubt, war brings so much pain and heartache to so many. But away from the unfortunate side of things, there was and still is so many amazing and happy stories. Hundreds if not thousands of people must have found love during and after WW2... so this is my grandparents story.

My grandfather, Raymond Sisley of Havant England, was a military driver for the British Army in WW2. On FRIDAY APRIL 13TH 1945 he was in Belson-France, driving Army officers just outside a Prisoner of War camp when his vehicle hit a landmine. The blast killed his superior but fortunatley only left him with injuries and needing plastic surgery. Unable to get treatment in France at the time, he was flown to Belgium where his plane unbeleivabley crashed! He continued his journey to Manchester-England, where a top plastic surgeon at the time was based.

My Grandmother Marjorie Hall, lived and worked in Manchester at this time for Ferranti-Hollingwood, making components for millitary vehicles, planes and equipment. My Nan has always been a fundraser, to this day she still rases cash in support of her local church. Back then she would spend her spare time writing to companies and approaching Manchesters top stores and local shops for donations into a special fund. Her efforts provided wounded souldiers with writing paper, stamps, shaving equipment and gifts while they were away from home in the wards of Manchesters hospitals.

My Grandfather was taken to Baguley Hospital for his plastic surgery. My Nan had already visited that hospital, and his exact ward several times before with other factory girls to donate the gifts and funds. A Polish soldier, named Joe took a friendly shine to my Nan and was situated next to the door of the ward until VE DAY-MAY 6TH 1945, when in place of Joe was my Grandfather who was being visited by his parents who had travelled to Manchester fom Havant. Joe was still on the same ward and was a huge character according to my Nan. She remembered some of the other characters on his ward too, a guy called Johnny Riley who was a fanatical musician was a paticular name she remembered. My Grandfather was also a clever artist & cartoonist and would draw the other soldiers and staff in the hospital (we're trying to find the drawings which are somwhere in my Nans house for safe keeping).

That paticular day, for so many reasons is still so fresh in her memory. My Nans frequent visits to the Hospital meant she and other girls were always around chatting to the soldiers and keeping them smiling. She and the others had always vowed to never date, or get involved with any of the soldiers until the day my Grandfather asked her on a date to a famous Manchester concert hall to see a show. My Nan recalls how hard she found it to resist as she had started to really get to like my Grandfather so much. So they, another soldier and another female went to the concert and had a fantasticly unforgettable night. My Nan recalls my Grandfather saving a large bar of chocolate to share at the concert that was possibly one of the donated gifts!

As the war was at an end, it was the perfect time for new beginnigs and building happier times. They continued courting even after my Grandfather returned home to Havant to continue his life from where it had left off. But, it wasn't going to get in the way of them being together! On JULY 26TH 1946, they married at All Saints Church in Manchester and my Nan moved away from her Newton Heath roots to make a new life with my Grandfather in Havant.

They were together for 50 years, and married for 49. Unfortunatley we lost my Gramps to Meningitis just before their Golden anniversary but this story meant so much to him also, so it is for both of them that I share this with you.

Simon Neale (26) - Havant, Hampshire.

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