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[Read part 1 of this story.]

Billie Roberts was my driving instructor on the drivers' training course in Cairo. Billie came from Bersham, Wrexham. When war broke out he joined the army (Royal Armoured Corps (RAC)) and was immediately posted to France. He was picked up from the shores of Dunkirk.

On arriving in England he had a week’s leave before being posted to North Africa. He fought in Tobruk and El Alamein. Somehow he then landed in Cairo as an instructor in charge of the drivers’ training course under the company command of Major Mackenzie.

Mutual attraction

Billie must have been attracted to me from the first week we met. The attraction was mutual. We all five became good friends, the three Hannahs, Liza and Billie. We all went out together. Billie told me that he was engaged to a girl in Birkenhead. Her name was Gertie. He carried her photograph in his pay book.

On our days off we four women used to come to Cairo. We were only allowed to travel in military transport, so if there was none available we couldn’t go anywhere.

Music for All

In 1942 Cairo was a great centre for the troops – the people were nice and welcoming, the city beautiful. Their main spoken language was Arabic and French, but they spoke English as well. I was fortunate because I knew all three languages.

We’d meet at Music for All, a place that played music all the time, where you could drink coffee and meet your friends. Billie was there. He often asked the other girls’ permission if he could steal me for a few hours and always promised to bring me back safely. We parted many times and kept meeting again.

Married in Jaffa

In England, Gertie had met a man called Joe. They fell in love and got married. I then asked Billie to marry me. We married at the High Commissioner's Office in Jaffa on 5 February 1945.

My mother, who I loved very much, did not approve of my marriage. Her advice to me was simple: ‘Remember who you are and what you are. Respect yourself and others.’ But when my family got to know Billie they simply loved him. They used to say that our marriage was made in heaven.

Back home with one suitcase

Three weeks after getting married we left for Britain. I was allowed to take just one suitcase. The war was still on, and we travelled in a convoy of 12 ships. German submarines were still about. We sailed safely up the Clyde on 14 March to arrive on a most beautiful sunny, warm day.

Billie’s mother played a key role in our life. In 1944 she had corresponded with me before I arrived in Wales. Her letters throughout the months were full of warmth, caring and welcoming. She said she knew how much I was giving up by marrying her son: my family, my home, my country. We became great friends and loved each other. I was a young bride of 21. She was 75. I also had a great welcome from the people of Wrexham.

True love and happiness

Gertie and Joe became our good friends. Our daughter was a bridesmaid to Carolyn, their daughter, and godmother to their granddaughter, Elizabeth. When Elizabeth got married last year I was invited to the wedding and was treated as part of the family.

Billie and I were happily married. He was my friend, lover and husband and father to our beautiful, intelligent, wise daughter Elane.

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