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This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Clive Bishop of the CSV Action Desk, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Newcastle on behalf of Ann Plant and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

My father enlisted in the Regular Army in 1928. No 784149 Royal Artillery. He was posted to Bangalore in India in 1929. He played football and won many cups (mum has them).
He met Spike Milligan there and often spoke of him.
He was posted to Gibraltar in January 1936 and specialised in PE.

In August 1939 when the family sailed to Gibraltar on a Union Castle Line ship (see photograph, other people not known if you can help please send feedback). The family lived in married quarters at Europa Point. I was only one year and ten months old so did not go to school

Remember Sam Cohen, the Tailor — Mum said he tailored all the regimental orders. He made her a lovely suit plus anything else that was required. Everyone was told that if Italy joined in we would be asked to leave the rock.
In May 1940 civilians were given a few hours notice to leave. Mother was given the choice of sailing to England or going to Casa Blanca. She chose home. Most Giraltarians went to Casa Blanca.

My father’s friend Jim Wilson, who was in the same regiment, was married to a Spanish girl, Anna, who didn’t speak any English at all. My mother was asked if she would look after Anna and her three children on the Journey back to Liverpool.

We were put on a destroyer or troop ship, flanked on both sides by two escort ships. We were being bombed all the way to England. Don’t know the name of the ship, but it sailed in May 1940 from Gibraltar to Liverpool. When we arrived Liverpool was badly bombed.

Mum brought Anna and her children with us back to Newcastle and found her somewhere to live. This was Leazes Terrace, overlooking St. James’s Park. Both families remain friends to the present day.
Father stayed with his Battalion on the Rock he was a Limber Gunner 38/61 Field Battalion. R.A.
Mayy my cousin came up from London to stay with us during the blitz. We all used to hide under the huge heavy oak table when the bombing was happening, although we had an air raid shelter. The sirens were very loud from the town.

My brother Thomas was born in 1944. All mothers who were about to give birth were transported to Gilsland Nursing Home in Haltwhistle, way up in the hills. I waved bye to her at the Central Station as she went away for two weeks. I stayed with my Aunt Meggie. I remember meeting mother and baby Thomas (born 28th December 1944) at Central Station in January 1945; I was with my Aunt. We all went to a café for something to eat before going home. Mother had two more children, Pamela in 1946 and Richard in 1948.

I remember that the beaches had barbed wire and we couldn’t go on the sands and Grandstand Road in Newcastle had huge concrete blocks all the way up.

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