- Contributed byÌý
- Link into Learning
- People in story:Ìý
- June Jory, Cecil Jory, Dennis Hancock
- Location of story:Ìý
- Tintagel, Cornwall
- Background to story:Ìý
- Civilian
- Article ID:Ìý
- A4076237
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 16 May 2005
This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Dominic Penny of Link into Learning on behalf of June Jory and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site’s Terms and Conditions.
Tintagel in North Cornwall saw many young men go away to the fighting services in World War 2.
Early in 1945 my father in law Cecil Jory and his Tintagel friend Dennis Hancock returned from the D Day invasion of Europe. While awaiting their demob in the closing days of the war they were sent out to guard the cliffs around our Tintagel Church and settled into a ‘quiet billet’.
In the coming years as we walked on the peaceful cliffs this is the story he told me in 1963.
Celebrations
They had been on guard duty for quite a time when one day they began to hear music, loud laughter, shooting and a few fireworks. Such things should not be happening in the village about half a mile away, so they thought they would go back to investigate. This meant leaving their post. On coming up Vicarage Hill they were told ‘The War is over!’ But no one had told them, not even the person who had sent them out to the cliffs. Then the church bells were rung to tell all the people. But until they both died neither man had ever officially been told to come off duty.
On our family walks over the cliffs I often used to say to Cecil, he really should still be on duty out there. I always felt in the excitement of the war being over Cecil and Dennis were forgotten, which ponders me to think that there were others who may still be alive today that should, maybe, ‘Still be on duty for Queen and Country!’
The souvenirs and diary of Cecil’s War service, his journey through Europe in 1939-45 are treasured in our family for the freedom we enjoy as three generations now follow his story of those times.
Airplane Crash near Bowithick
My memories of WW2 are very obscure although it’s left me with a fear of any airplane, after seeing one crash at Buttern Down, Bowithick in Cornwall when I was only 4 years of age.
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