- Contributed byÌý
- Bill Forster
- Article ID:Ìý
- A7301044
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 26 November 2005
Continued from A7300649
POSTSCRIPT 1985
Later 1985
I have been reading this diary for the first time in many years and I am struck by the constant preoccupation over food & how on earth I managed to write it at all given the conditions ..
The reception camp was at Chalfont St Giles & I remember Charlie Glasgow & I were kitted & had a little trip to Windsor stirring up some interest in the process.
Then the train!
It was astounding, amazing & altogether fabulous: a great long passenger train pointed north.
We piled in regardless - old friends reunited in many cases - after a while the engines hooted - it was double headed - & we were heading home.
Then the fun began!
Realise, as I do know, that we were the first P.O.W.s to come back to England in bulk & were treated accordingly by the brass.
Various officers NCOs & officials toured the train dispensing advice & sorting out who wanted to go where.
The train would pull up in the middle of nowhere & a couple of chaps would swing down& hare over the fields & then off we'd chuff again.
Consequently we travelled in fits & starts & night became early morning as landmarks appeared anticipation grew & when the magic carpet stopped for ages on the high level bridge over the Tyne - dirty as ever - the language honed over years of captivity nearly set the carriages on fire.
Then we moved & pulled in at 5.00 am to a welcome I would not have believed!
The whole of the Central Station was packed with a shouting cheering mass of people - it was fantastic inspiring & altogether a tear giving experience.
I walked with the throng down the slope from the bridge & scanning the crowd & there she was, little bright face under a little brown beret! What a time that was ...
And as I write this 40 years later after my Bun's death & look back at all that has happened in that strange exciting, happy period of time with two fine sons & two grandchildren I'm glad it all happened just the way it did.
I did my best to make a life, I could have probably done better, I don't know, but I could most certainly have done worse.
And that's not a bad epitaph.
Continued on A7314392
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