大象传媒

This story was submitted by William Logan, and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.
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In 1942 I went to Grammar School. Many of the regular teachers were away in the forces. There were very active branches of the Air Training Corps and the Army Cadet Force in the School and many of the school leavers went straight into the forces. Often at Assembly the Headmaster had to announce the loss on active service of an Old Boy 鈥攗sually someone who had left school a short time previously. He spoke so feelingly about each one that it seemed to me that each one could have been his own son.

After America entered the War there were large numbers of American Servicemen billeted in my area. They filled all the dance halls and attracted the girls with their presents of cigarettes, perfume and nylons. Some of these girls ended up by going back to America as 'G.I.' brides.
The Army frequently came out to the country for exercises. On occasions our house was taken over as an 'operations centre' and various manoeuvres were carried out on the land. On the whole they did not do much damage.

The end of the war came as a great relief, although it was expected for some time. The progress of the war had improved steadily from the dark days of 1941. Although it was great to have hostilities stopped we had to wait quite a while before rationing and many other restrictions were lifted.

W.C.Logan

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