大象传媒

Vera's Tale:

Thurs Oct 17th 1940
Today my sweetie had to leave me to join HM Forces, the day which is the blackest day in our happy married life.Never before have we parted without knowing wxactly when we should meet again. I pray that this time it will not be for long. We stood together and looked at our wedding photographs and commented that that was the happiest day of our lives, but the day he returns to civil life will be far far happier. We shed tears and our hearts were full to breaking, but we realised that we were not the only two who were being parted. We bid au revoir (we hope) to Frank's mother who was also upset at his leaving, his sister Nora and neighbour. Heavy heartd we went to the staion. Mother and Carol (3 yr old neice ) came with us. There were several others joining their units, but not many for Chillwell. The train was on platform 9. I shall always remember that platform number. We had time to stand together for a few minutes before the train left at 9.30prompt. I'm glad and thankful that we both managed to smile farewell. I shall always remember his face peeping from the carriage door as the train moved out of the staion taking my biggest and best treasure with it.
Mother, Carol and I left the station and caught a tram on to Heeley bottom, just to have a look round and buy meat for dinner. I felt I couldn't go home straight away so we decided to go into town. Mother told me about Doris (sister) having a fur coat and not showing it to me on the sunday previous. It upset me rather alot, not being able to have a new coat myself. It gave me the impression that they thought I would be envious of Doris, but this is not so. I like other people to have nice things.
we went to Frank's mothers, then returned home, made a fire and had tea. After putting Carol to bed I thought of my sweetie.
It's now just after 9pm and my thoughts are all with him I love so much, as they always will be.

Sat Oct 19th 1940
A letter arrived by afternoon post from my darling. I couldn't wait to open it but what a shock I had to find that his address was not Chilwell bit Hinkley. I was upset as this meant that we were even further apart, but I was pleased to hear he had made friends.

Sun Oct 20th 1940 Our 6th Wedding Anniversary.
I didn't sleep well. I had to weep as I couldn't hold it any longer. After breakfast Mum took Carol out and I took the opportunity to write to my soldier husband. He is still my sweetie Pie.

Frank's Tale:
Mon July 28th 1941
Left Aldershot at 12.30, arrived Gourock 22 hrs later

Tues July 29
Embarked on HMS Strath Allen at 11.30. Corned beef for lunch, fish for dinner
Wed Jul 30
Exploring, getting lost. Very mystifies and excited, cabin bot told us we were off to India - Bombay. Life boat drill.
thur July 30
Still exploring and excited. Good food and plenty of it.
sat aug 2nd
started to move down Firth of Clyde. The biggest troop carrier ever.
Mon 4th aug
Clocks back 1 hr. Rough sea, most of the lads are sea sick.
wed 6th Aug
Troopship collided with destroyer, had to put in to Newfoundland for repair.
Sat 16th Aug
Excited at seeing land.
Sun 17th Aug
Arrived Freetowm NW Africa. Natives in small boats shouting 'Glasgow Tanner' !
Mon 18th Aug
Locals selling Bananas Magoes and Coconuts very good at swearing. Cheerful fellows, good hearted.
thur 21 Aug
Left Freetown, travelling at a fair speed.
Fri Aug 22
PT on deck. Pay 5/-
Sun 24 Aug
Crossed the equator. Such fine fun watching King Neptune and Queen ducking Capts and shaving with large razor.
SatAug 30
Pictures in canteen - "Mandalay".
Won captains cake for cleanliness.
Tue sep 2nd
Arrive Capetown s Africa. Shore leave. Burke fought R A men!!
wed 3 sep
Tour of Table Mountail with local chauffeur.
Met Mr and Mrs Robeck and were invited to dinner
thur 4th sep
went to Robecks, met family. Heaps of fun. Burke drunk - never returned.
Sat 6 Sep
Left Capetown with very happy memories. Enrolled as M P
Sat 13th sept
neice Carol's birthday, thought of her all day. Encountered slight enemy action in Indian Ocean. Smoke screen.
Sat 20 sep
Arrived Bombay.
Mon 22 sep
Very hot. allowed to go int Bombay. Customs and smells very Queer. Bought necklace for Vera, had goats milk and fortune told.
thur 25 sep
Left Bombay on troopship Lancashire, up Persian gulf.
Fri 26 sep
Very hot. saw sharks, porpoises, swordfish. st on deck.
Tue 30 sep
Nearing our journey's end, can see land Gulf narrowing.
Wed 1 Oct
arrived basra. 4am left boat 9 am arrivin at camp 12 pm tired and dusty.
Thu 2 Oct
Hot and dirty. Camp arrangements very unsatisfactory, food awful.
fri 3 oct
still unsatisfactory, and hungry. went out at night to Indian camp, gave us food and dates.
sat 4 oct
Soup every day for dinner. Felling pretty fed up.
mon 6 oct
Got paid 10/-, went out at night, had food.
tue 8 oct
sick but didn't report. Didn't eat anything, stayed in bed. what I wouldn't give for my Vera to make me better.
Fri 9th oct
Reported again for police duties. Wrote to my darling Vera. Still very hot, flies terrible.
thu 16 oct
Sick. sent to british General Hospital. No food, only tea and barley water.
tue 21 oct
on the mend, taking a little food.
tue 28 oct
Discharged, weak and hungry. 3 days excused duties.
wed 29 oct
wrote to Vera and mother. still weak but not so hungry.
Tue 4 nov
Interview with Capt wilson. accepted as waiter in Officers mess
Fri 21 nov
Left by train for Kirkut, Mosul. in train all night
sat 22 nov
Arr Baghdad 9am left 11.45. arabs and Armenians - children ery interesting. One with only one eye.
Sun 23 Nov
Arr Kurkut. Nice place, much cooler. Capt Wilkinson sent for me.
Mon 24 Nov
English weather, very nice and healthy.
thurs 27 Nov
Nice weather, wind and rain. Felt earth tremor.

And here the diary entries end. Frank and Vera were re united after the war, having not seen each other for five and a half years. For most of the time Vera did not know where Frank was.
They remained happily married until Frank died in 1991. Vera lived until 1999

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