大象传媒

My father, William, was born in the Isle of Dogs, East London, in 1913 and my mother, Doris, was born in Greenwich in 1920. When my mother was just ten years old her own father died. Her mother re-married in 1932, hence a 'step-dad' for my mother at just twelve years of age. My parents got married in 1940. I was born in April 1941 when my mother was still only 20 years old. My brother, Tony, was born in July 1943. My father was one of the 'old boys' called up in August 1943 just one month after Tony was born. Dad served as a Leading Air Fitter in the Fleet Air Arm until April 1946.

The main point of this story is the fact that my mother, like many other young mothers, was left alone in Greenwich for nearly three years to look after two very young sons. At first she had the help of her own mother, but she sadly died in 1944, just one other hardship for my mother to cope with.

We lived just 150 yards from the Greenwich power station and not too far from the Greenwich gas works and the Thames riverside; all good targets for enemy bombers. Bombs fell regularly around the area and we would retreat to the coal cupboard under the stairs whenever the air-raid warning sounded. I would have to stand on sharp pieces of coal for lengthy periods. The house was totally gas-lit, (we got electricity in 1954!), so these nightly manoeuvres took place in darkness. The noises and smells will live with me forever. We were evacuated to Yorkshire in 1944, but were there only for a very short while as the farmer with whom we stayed was 'very unfriendly' towards us!

My mother was still only twenty-four years old when the war ended. How such young women managed to look after their children so competently during such hard times, especially whilst their husbands were away on war service. never ceases to amaze me. My father died in 1989 and my mother in 1993.

Due to my apprenticeship, I just missed National Service, but because I felt that I 'owed' something, I took a commission in the TA (REME) in 1970 and served for seven years. This was followed by some twenty-five years as a Scout Leader. I am now the branch Secretary of the Dymchurch and District branch of the Royal British Legion. The branch has around 700 members of whom some 350 are ex-servicemen or women. Perhaps I'm simply trying to put something back into the system in gratitude to others who gave so much more.

I am now the father of four and grandfather to eight. My father never lived to see any of his great-grandchildren.

Thanks Dad...
Thanks Mum...

Your son,
Terry

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