大象传媒

This story was contributed at Tullie House Carlisle by George Webster, and recorded by a volunteer story gatherer.

John Webster, Nickname Blackcat, because of his black hair.Lived in Maryhill, Glasgow.
Joined up when he was 18 and served in North Africa and Italy.
Johnny's mother died while he was away. He had permission to return but he got drunk the night before his departure, put on Jankers and was'nt allowed to go home.
Johnny died in Manchester at the age of 89 having got into a life of crime and alcohol.

Postcards sent to Johnny Webster's mother during the second world war.

Postcard with picture of El-Arrouch L'eglise

My Dear Mother,
This is a little box of dates for you and I hope they are all right and they are lovely now. Those photographs are some of the places I have been to and am now near the card with photo of Phillipville. I am fine and hope you and all at home are well this parcel will not reach you perhaps for Xmas or New Year but it is the thoughts and not the quality and the content of the gifts that counts. cheerio and a more joyful new year for you.Your Loving Son Johnny Webster
(Johnny also sent an arm band of the Herman Goring Regiment or what was left of it and a French Regiments badge, "The Algerian Tiralleurs"

Postcard showing Constantine (Algerie) La Gare

"All these places are in Algeria not Tunisia where all the fighting was, so you will see we have come back hundreds of miles."

"This is a beautiful town high up in the mountains, built on solid rock and very modern inhabitants French and French Jews, a good lot of arabs who are not so nice and dangerous at night time but no one has dared to tackle the Black Owl yet."

Postcard showing Phillipville 1943
Near here at present,5 miles to the east.

Postcard showing Algiers
Algiers 1942 1943
"I was homesick that night but the german planes were not and dropped a lot of stuff that night but changed days now."

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