大象传媒

After my father's death, we came across this letter which he had sent to his local newspaper in East London. We had never known of its existence. In fact, all his life the war was a closed book. He never wanted to talk about it.

I used to be so envious of the other boys at school who told tales of what their fathers had done. Mine simply said he went in to Juno behind the Canadians so he didn't see a thing!

If any of you know him or recognise the two friends he is talking about then please let me know. His service number was 6017127 (strange how you can remember some things for ever!)

In life he was a very private man, often stern and austere and very Victorian in outlook and attitude. This letter proves he had a soft side after all!!

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Greatest Crusade

I have just finished reading a copy of the Stratford Express and felt moved to write to you to say that I have felt nearer home through reading about the activities of my own people in East Ham. I may be sentimental, but I think there is just that extra kick in reading one's "local rag," as it is so often called, than perusing the columns of the national newspapers.

Two other local boys, namely Cpl. J Bourne, 36 Alnwick Road, Custom House and Sergt. J Mumford of Leytonstone, are two privileged members who share with me an old German dug-out, formerly part of the "West Wall" which we took over on D-Day.

Life is much easier now than it was in those first few days. I think then the nearest approach to heaven that one could possibly obtain was to spend a few precious minutes laid in a hole in the ground, smoking a cigarette and listening to the whine of the shells whistling over us from our battleships at sea. This, combined with the drone of the Spitfires, made the finest piece of music I have ever heard.

My friends and I read with great interest and pleasure the fact that our fellow citizens, after the news had been released, were showing their customary kindness and generosity to the boys who were coming out here to join this Army of Liberation. We were not privileged to be part of Mr Churchill's "first of the few" but we had the honour of being amongst the "first of the many" and ouor fellow citizens, when we passed through East Ham, little realised that they were witnessing the beginning of the greatest crusade in history.

So from "East Ham", the name of our dug out, I send you, on behalf of my friends and myself, our best wishes and know that, as in the past, you will stand up to the "buzz bomb" and triumph over that as you did in the raids of 1940.

Sergt. ARNOLD E R
Port.Op Co. R.E.,
B.W.E.F.

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