大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War website by a volunteer of the Stoke CSV Action Desk on behalf of Arthur Lowe and has been added to he site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

By 1940 May Lowe had waved goodbye to three of her eight sons, as they marched away to war. Her concern for their safety she hid with a quiet resignation, that is until a War Office telegram informed her that sons Sidney and Edward were missing in the evacuation of the troops from Dunkirk.
Mourning the fate of my two brothers, I vowed to teach the Germans a lesson. Forty-eight hours later I joined the Army. Age eighteen I had no thought of the heartache Mum would suffer because of my action. Only now in the autumn of my life do I reaslise the crushing heartache she endured.
My lasting memory is of her trim figure waving goodbye to me. Though my step seemed purposeful, my mind was turmoil of apprehension at what could lay ahead of me. May's agony of mind increased on learning that Albert and James, two elder sons, were destined for active service in Europe.
All mother's dread the though of their child in danger. My mum had six of us in peril. Her mental torment unimaginable, Mum's heartache grew unbearable on learning that I was missing after the fall of Singapore anf brother Sidney seriously wounded at the battle of El Almein.
Mother's will ever be the hidden casualty of war.
To me women have always been equal to men; my mum was living proof of that assertion. However we the soldier brothers may have suffered in that war, May's agony was infinitely greater and without cessation.

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