大象传媒

There was an Opera House in Lubeck, sometimes a cinema. Once there was a concert with Lauritz Melchior, Owen Brannigan and a lovely Danish soprano. A light globe fell off that night and fell into an empty seat about six seats away from me!
Later we were categorised into age and length of service groups for demob. I was in Age and Service Group 22C, dated 16 November, in my AB64 Soldiers Service Book, which I still have. When the time arrived we were taken by lorry to Hamburg to board a train which took us to Tournai Staging Camp in Belgium. The next day we went by train to Calais, boat to Dover, then train overnight to Carlisle and into barracks there for the night. The next day, Saturday 15th December 1945 we went by train to Ashton under Lyne, and then by lorry to an old mill where we were allowed to walk round to choose shoes, socks, suit, shirt, overcoat or raincoat and hat. Then we made our own way home, and I was out. All the six years and three months of the war, Porritts of Stubbins Vale Mills had paid ten shillings per week, first to my Dad, and after he died they paid it to me. I collected it when I came on leave and banked it in the Post Office. I also had a gratuity for Military Service of seventy two pounds.
In this story I have been surprised that so many memories came so readily to mind, at my ability to write them all down, and that a very shy boy from a remote village has experienced all this. Surprised also that when the war was over, I got medals including the Territorial Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (War Service counts double) 12 years, and that I received a certificate from General Barber, Commanding the 15th Scottish division, for Gallant Service and Devotion to Duty. Amen to that.

Transcribed from "Reminiscences" by Edwin Longworth by his daughter Vera, with proud and loving memories of a quiet and devoted father who late in life developed a wonderful talent for story telling.

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