大象传媒

Staffs County Council libraries, on behalf of the author, have submitted this story. The author fully understands the rules and regulations of the People's War website.

My story starts when my husband, Joe, was sent to the far east - Burma. He was with the North Staffs Regiment. I was at home in Newcastle-under-Lyme, waiting to hear from Joe but never had any letters for months. Then, one day, I saw an article in the daily newspaper (Daily Herald) which said, "Are you receiving any mail?" - "Would you like us to arrange to have a tune played for you?" I replied to the newspaper telling them I'd received no mail and also asked them to play a song called, 'I haven't said thanks for that lovely weekend!'
After this, I was contacted by the 大象传媒 asking me if I would like to go to Broadcasting House in London and give out the message myself on air. I went down to London, all expenses paid, and took a friend as well. Everything was kept secret - even the names of the streets were blacked out.
On arrival at the broadcasting studio, I found out that the band, Geraldo and his orchestra, singers Dorothy Carlos and George Melachrino were actually there in person to take part in the broadcast with me. I had to go to a rehearsal to make sure that my voice carried. Also, I was told what I could or could not say. They informed me that I would not only be talking to just my husband, but to all the Potteries' boys out there.
First of all, the orchestra played the North Staffs march and then I gave my message. I said:- "Hello darling, I'm quite well and working hard. Thinking about you every day. Writing to you every day and praying for you every day. Then the orchestra played our tune 'I haven't said thanks for that lovely weekend.' I also mentioned that I hadn't received his mail. I then gave a message to all the lads:- "Cheer up all you Potteries' boys over there - you'll all soon be in your home-town again!" The orchestra then played 'Home sweet home again' and my broadcast ended with this.
I was informed by the army that they had arranged for all the boys to listen to my broadcast in the far east. When my husband eventually came home, after four years, he told me that most of the boys were crying throughout the broadcast.
Following on from this broadcast, I found out that the problems with the mail were caused because of a number of reasons:- my husband was in action in the jungle and coundn't write at this time, he also had spent time in hospital with malaria and dysentery and the Japanese were also bombing the mail ships.
When I did eventually receive mail from Joe, I went to tell his mother the news. While I was there, a neighbour visited. Her son, who Joe had grown up with, was now stationed with him in Burma. She came to tell us that she had also received a letter from her son. She held up the letter and said in a broad Potteries accent:- "Wot's think Sally, I've had a letter from ar Bill and he's had a bullet up his arse!!!"

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