大象传媒

At the outbreak of war in September 1939, my grandfather, Hugh "Greg" Gregson was a serving professional soldier with the Royal Artillery based in Bordon, Hants.

Although he had joined the army in the 1920's and had trained in gunnery he had, in fact, become an accomplished army cook and had been awarded a silver medal in recognition of his skill at Olympia during the 1930's.

As a Sergeant he had been given an army married quarter in Bordon where he lived with my grandmother, Kathleen "Kath" Gregson (nee Tarrant) and my mother Gloria Gregson (now Gloria Street) who at the time was 4 years old.

My grandmother told me that as the direct result of hostilities being declared she and all other army families in the married quarters were ordered to vacate their homes at a few days notice so that soldiers could be billetted in them.

She thinks that Canadian soldiers were moved into their homes.

No assistance of any sort was given by the military or local authorities to either find them any alternative accommodation or help them to move their belongings.

Luckily for her Kath was a local girl, having been born and bred in the nearby market town of Alton and personally knew the proprietor of a local haulage and transport company "WARRENS COACHES".

Mr Warren kindly agreed to come with a truck and collect her furniture and personal effects which were to be conveyed to the home of her parents in MOUNT PLEASANT, Alton, where she and Gloria were to live for most of the war.

Mr Warren was only able to take one load and other occupants begged him to return to collect their furniture for conveyance elsewhere even offering him payment well beyond the price normally charged.

Unfortunately Mr Warren explained that it was not a question of money and that he would have been more than willing to help them but he could not due to the fact that his truck and fuel had been requisitioned for the war effort and that this was the last civil transaction he was able to undertake before losing it.

My grandmother told me that she would never forget her last traumatic memory of that day as they drove away leaving women and children in tears begging for assistance with all of their furniture and possessions piled up outside their homes in the street.

Having moved in with her parents she saw my grandfather infrequently if he was able to get a few hours leave.

As a contibution to the war effort she worked in a factory manufacturing filters for tanks and my mother, Gloria, was virtually brought up by her grandmother.

Kath took up smoking during this time due to the fact that the manufacturing process was an extremely dusty occupation and her co-workers had told her that if she kept a cigarrette in her mouth and breathed through it whilst smoking the dust would be prevented from entering her lungs!

My grandfather "Greg" was invalided out of the army after the Dunkirk Evacuation because although he was not directly involved in the conflict he was on his feet for days on end without sleep whilst feeding the soldiers upon their return and this caused permanent injury to his feet and legs causing him to become unfit for continued military service.

He became a time-keeper for an Alton based manufacturer of artificial limbs (VOKES later known as VESSA) and in his spare time throughout the war used his creative skills (perhaps gained as a cook) to make wooden toys for local children and model aircraft.

My grandparents and mother eventually moved to a newly constructed "prefab" in GEALES CRESCENT, Alton.

My mother (Gloria) recalls that they became friendly with a german prisoner-of-war named Hans who came from a farming background and whilst in detention helped my grandfather in his garden. They exchanged Christmas Cards with each other long after the war had come to an end.

Greg was forced to take early retirement from his job in the mid 1960's due to ill health and died a few years later, however he continued to make soft toys at home almost up to his death.

Kath died in the early 1990's whilst well into her 80's so the use of "fags" as a filter must have worked !

Author: David Street of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire (born Alton 3/9/55)

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