大象传媒

I always thought that the war was constant, with no real rest from the horrible things that happened.I grew up asking my grandad, Arthur Jeffery, those awkward questions,all grandchildren asked, only for my nan to hush me up.It was during these awkward moments as I got older and realised what they all must of gone through I began to realise. "What did you do in the war Grandad?" didn`t need to be asked anymore,I just listen, it is as if all those boyhood questions are now being answered.
I sit there and what his eyes, seeing the people he`s remembering.The joy and the saddness across his face as he tells me about everything, but the 6th of June 1944 seems to be too painful.I watch him hoping that I can remember everything that he tells me, so I can pass it on to my children.
Just before D day he is made up to corporal in the pioneers.At the time they are stationed in Lingfield at a REME base having their Pioneer vehicles undersealed.He was made up so he could be escort for all the lads that decided they needed to go home,without any leave!He remembers having to go to London to collect one lad who`s wife and newborn child lived in an area called BUZZ bomb alley.They picked him up from the cells at Whitehall and had to wait for the connecting train back to camp.So the prisoner begged my grandad to stay at his house as it wasn`t far from the train station.So never one to upset, the three of them went to the house. My grandad and his mate stayed down stairs promised by the prisoner he would be down at 5a.m.Yes he did come down at 5 a.m. and he thanked my grandfather for one last cuddle with his family.
I wondered as he told me this if he made it home again to see his wife and child again or if the story was told to the baby as he/she grew up.
The strangest thing I found out was that a football match was arranged in Belgium, I think a town called Halle or something similar near Brussels.Where my grandad played against a local factory called BAFA or BATA. The photo shows the team.Some of the names I know are : Lt Fleming (Scotland) Corporal Bill Stone (London)Arthur Veale , Albert De`Fury (Bradford), Tomkinson, Robinson (Newcastle) and O`Halloran (Irish).The game was played just before he went into Holland where he describes the parachutes of all colours hanging from the trees.I don`t know the name of the rest of the team.Im afraid the look in his eyes tells me he`s `remembering the men and not just the names, and whatever memories he`s recalling I know I shouldn`t ask.

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