大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War Site by Louise Adamou, 大象传媒 Guide at the 大象传媒 Open Centre Hull on behalf of Brain Hodgins and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

THE SCHOOLBOY AND THE REBEL

鈥淩ight boys, take out your geography books鈥� said the teacher to the class. There was a loud banging of desk tops as the boys noisily complied. There was a buzz of whispered conversation behind raised lids 鈥渜uiet, pay attention for a moment please.鈥� Silence descended upon the classroom as the boys folded their arms across their chests and sat upright as required in the wartime classrooms of the 1940鈥檚, 1943 to be exact. Mr. Wilkinson gazed around the classroom to see he had everyone鈥檚 attention before beginning. 鈥淣o doubt you will be aware that American soldiers have moved into the barracks next door. I want you all to remember that all these soldiers are a long way from home, that they are in a strange country and now in a strange city. Everything is completely new to them, our way of life and even our language. It鈥檚 up to you boys to help them in any way that you can. If they are lost show them the way, if they can not understand our money, which many of them will not, show them how pennies make pounds, how many shillings in a pound. Explain what half a crown is, a florin and even sixpences and three penny bits. If possible introduce them to your families, make them feel welcome in every way.鈥� With these words ringing in his ears, the boy stood at the barrack gates in his young schoolboy way, ready to help.

As he looked up he saw a soldier walking towards him from the cook house or Mess Hall as he later learned they called it. The boy walked towards the soldier and held out his hand
鈥淗i Yank, I鈥檓 Brian鈥� he said as they shook hands
鈥淗i, I鈥檓 Jimmy and I鈥檓 pleased to meet you and by the way boy, I ain鈥檛 no Yank, I鈥檓 a rebel from Birmingham, Alabama.鈥�
鈥淲ould you like to come and meet my family Jimmy?鈥�
鈥淚 sure would boy and thanks for the invitation.鈥�
And so began a long friendship with the rebel and the boy and his family.

The boy told his Mam and Dad of his meeting with Jimmy and they said 鈥淗e is more than welcome to come and visit out home.鈥�
A couple of nights later the boy introduced Jimmy to his family and they made him feel very welcome, especially his dad who had been gassed badly and wounded during the First World War. It seemed that soldiers of any era have a common bond and so through the following year, especially the winter nights when the snow was down and it was very cold outside, Jimmy used to love sitting in front of the open coal fire talking to Brian鈥檚 parents about his home and his family; his wife Julia and his young daughter. Jimmy was particularly taken with the black leaded range and the highly polished brass trivets and the gleaming copper kettle. He thought it was a lovely sight, to the boy too it was a great time. A never ending supply of chewing gum and Hershey bars, things unobtainable in wartime Britain.
Jimmy asked Brian鈥檚 Mam is she would like to write to his wife in Alabama which she did and they became very good friends. So good that one day there was a loud knocking on the front door, when the boy opened there was a post office van outside, the driver said 鈥減arcel for you.鈥� The driver turned to the van and came staggering back with a huge box. It was a food parcel from Jimmy鈥檚 wife containing all kinds of foodstuffs never seen for years in England. Tinned peaches, tinned ham, biscuits and candy. What a sight to see, what a feast; just to read the labels was an adventure alone for the boy. His mother wrote back immediately to thank Jimmy鈥檚 wife and thanked her for such a magnificent gift and told her how much it was appreciated by us all.

At about that time, Jimmy seemed to get a great interest in English silver three penny pieces, the boy asked him why. Jimmy said 鈥淚f he could get a broach and earrings made from them, he thought his wife would like them and they would always remind him of England.鈥� So the boy and his mother began to save all the three penny pieces that they could, when they had enough, she had them mounted into a broach, bracelet and earrings and gave them to Jimmy to send home to his wife. She was delighted with them he said.

As with the course of events in wartime, things have to move on. So came the day when Jimmy said they were moving out, moving out to another camp. Jimmy said 鈥淜eep writing to me boy, let me know how you are doing in school, look after yourself and your family, I鈥檒l let you know when we are going.鈥� A couple of days later came the move out. The boy waited at the side of the road as the big American trucks passed by in convoy. Suddenly a 鈥榩ip 鈥� pip 鈥� pip鈥� of a horn and a wave. A big truck slowed down and the boy ran and jumped on to the running board, it was Jimmy - a quick shake of the hand.
鈥淭ake care Jimmy, look after yourself鈥� the boy shouted and jumped down to watch the big truck speed up to catch up with the rest of the convoy. The convoy drove out of sight, round the bend in the street. All was quiet, the boy walked home thinking of his rebel pal and hoping he would be okay and return home safe to his wife Julia. It was the beginning of the move south for D-Day, but of course no one knew that at the time.

The boy kept writing to Jimmy who answered every letter saying he was okay but he couldn鈥檛 say where he was. Then came the announcement on the wireless 鈥楢LLIED TROOPS HAVE LANDED ON THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE 鈥� D-DAY鈥�. Everyone knew the war would be over soon now, although the boy鈥檚 father said 鈥渢here will be some terrible fighting yet before this war is over.鈥�

The boy kept writing to Jimmy till one day his letters came backed stamped with the words 鈥楻ETURNED BY THE U.S ARMY POST OFFICE.鈥� The boy wrote again with the same result. He asked his Dad why this was. His dad said 鈥渨hen men are fighting a war things go wrong sometimes.鈥�

The boy never did hear from his rebel pal again and over the years he often wondered whether Jimmy been killed or had he returned home safely to his wife Julia in Birmingham, Alabama. This he will never know. That boy is now 72 and all he has is his memories of those far off days and a photograph of his rebel pal Jimmy.

He has visited France a couple of times and has been to the American Cemetery at Bloody Omaha to pay his respects. He has walked the row upon row of white crosses and read the names of those brave young men who made the supreme sacrifice. On his last visit as he was leaving, he turned, looked back and said quietly to himself鈥�
鈥淲herever you are now Reb, it was nice to have known you.鈥�

Brian鈥檚 recollections are wholly based on real events. Brian has written them as an outsider looking in to make his memories more accessible to the reader, but he was indeed the little boy and is now an old man (as he puts it) looking back.

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