大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by a London CSV volunteer on behalf of Elizabeth Welsh McNulty and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

On the afternoon of 9 September 1941 my mother and I were alone in our family home near Canterbury. My mother was busy in the kitchen making apple jelly, and I, curled up in a big armchair in the front room, was reading a book. I was nine years of age.

Suddenly, in a rush of activity my mother ran towards the front door and opened it wide. With an audible sigh she continued down the garden path where she stood, in obvious distress, gazing up and down the road. On hearing the commotion I had gone to stand by the window to see what was happening. As she slowly made her way back towards the house I went to the door to meet her.

鈥淲hat happened, Mummy,鈥� I said. 鈥淲hy did you run out so quickly, where you looking for someone?鈥�
鈥淚t was John,鈥� she replied, 鈥淚 heard him walking up the path, he knocked on the door. Didn鈥檛 you hear him?鈥�
鈥淣o, I didn鈥檛 hear anything except when you ran to the door. But where is John?鈥�
鈥淗e鈥檚 not here but he did knock on the door. I think he鈥檚 in trouble and came to let me know. We must pray for him. Our Blessed Mother will surely take care of him鈥�.
鈥淗ow did you know it was John?鈥� I asked. 鈥淒id you see him?鈥�
鈥淣o,鈥� she replied, 鈥渂ut I heard him walking up the path. You each have a different step, and I know which one of you is at the door before I set eyes on you.鈥�

A few days later the dreaded telegram from the War Office arrived. It merely stated: 鈥淲e regret to inform you that your son John is reported missing on active service, and is feared dead.鈥� The confirmation of his death was received by telegram within forty-eight hours. With this news, a pall of mourning descended on our home and family.

John died leaving a widow and a baby son, also called John. The previous year, on Sunday 15 September 1949, John and Marie Leaden of Eccles, Lancashire, were married at Hersden, near Canterbury. They married on that historic day when the Royal Air Force fought and won the definitive battle of Britain in the skies over southern England. It was, therefore, a day of family celebration and national euphoria. How life can change in one short year.

Because John鈥檚 death was seriously affecting her health, my father persuaded my mother to visit her family in Scotland. He felt she would benefit from the support and comfort of her own immediate family. Along with my two younger siblings, Honor and Larry, I accompanied her on this journey of healing.

I think we stayed in Scotland for two weeks. Towards the end of our visit, my maternal grandmother, Isabella Cain (nee McCudden), advised my mother to visit Canon Taylor who was parish priest of the nearby parish of Carfin. Canon Taylor was responsible for the construction of a shrine dedicated to Mary Mother of Christ, or 鈥極ur Lady鈥�, as she is more familiarly addressed by Roman Catholics.

On the final day of our stay in Scotland the four of us went to Carfin and, after attending the service of Benediction, we went to the presbytery to see Canon Taylor. On enquiring about the purpose of our visit, my mother told the Canon that she needed to know details of John鈥檚 death in order to put him to rest. She wanted to know the manner and cause of his dying.

鈥淏ut why have you come to me, how can I help you in this matter,鈥� asked the Canon.
鈥淚 want you to ask Our Lady to send someone to tell me about John鈥檚 last hours on earth.鈥�
鈥淚n that case we鈥檒l all pray,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur Lady will surely answer the prayers of a mother in distress.鈥� And with that he invited us all to stand and pray quietly for my mother鈥檚 intention.

Within the space of a very short time, probably less than a minute, the Canon turned to my mother and said: 鈥淵our prayer has been answered. Our Lady has made known to me that she will send someone to tell you about the manner of John鈥檚 death. I have no information as to how, where or when this will happen. Only that it will happen.鈥�

The Canon then went on to say: 鈥淥ur Lady also gave me a message for you. She said that you must not look on each day as a day away from John, rather treat each day as a step towards him, because when this life is over you will be united with him in peace and joy.鈥�

Two or three days later, the four of us: Larry, Honor, myself and our mother, Isabella, were standing in the concourse of Charing Cross station waiting for the announcement of the train which was to take us on the final stage of our journey to Sturry, near Canerbury. We had traveled overnight from Glasgow Central to Euston and were anxious to be home before the night bombing started.

We arrived at Charing Cross to find the station filled with sailors from so many different allied countries, among which I recognized those from France, Norway and Canada. Twelve military policemen, working in twos were also very much in evidence as they cris-crossed the concourse keeping a vigilant lookout for any sign of trouble. I know there were twelve because I counted them several times.

As was custom at that age I gradually wandered away on my own and suddenly found myself looking up at a sailor with 鈥楬MS Candytuft鈥� on his cap. In utter disbelief I ran back to my mother and, pulling on her sleeve to catch her attention, told her that I had seen a sailor from John鈥檚 ship. Her first reaction was one of doubt. During the war Royal Navy personnel were not allowed to display their ship鈥檚 name on their hat whilst ashore. This was a precaution against supplying the enemy with valuable information.

Chapter 2: www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/a5912985

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