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Introduction

This article has been written by Joseph Ritson a volunteer for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Cumbria CSV Action Desk volunteers at a commemorative, interactive exhibition about World War Two at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle, Cumbria. The exhibition incorporated a travelling exhibition from the Imperial War Museum, London entitled ‘Their Past, Your Future’. Also on display were also local artefacts, photographs, memorabilia and personal memoirs from the Tullie House Museum archives.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Cumbria Action Desk team attended the exhibition on Friday 19 August 2005 to help publicise the ´óÏó´«Ã½ “People’s Warâ€� project and help anyone wishing to contribute their personal memories of the war years. This article has been submitted with the permission of Mrs Jackie Elliott (née Blair), originally from Aspatria, Cumbria. The author fully understands the terms of the “People’s Warâ€� website.

Daddy’s story

“My father’s name is James Allison Blair and he is still living in Cumbria. In World War Two he served in the ‘Royal Scots’ infantry, also known as the ‘1st of Foot’. He told me had wanted to go in the Navy but he was put into to ‘Royal Scots’ but he didn’t know why.

So far as I know he told me he landed in Normandy in the ‘Second Wave’ and being in the infantry, they walked it all the way to Germany! My father had his birthday on February 18th 1945 and that was the day he got shot in his left shoulder. On that day, the ‘Royal Scots’ had reached a place called Gock on the Dutch / German border. They were fighting the Germans in the railway sidings there.

Having been wounded, he was shipped back to Britain and sent for recuperation to Leicester. After he had recovered, my father was sent back to join the Army. He finished out the war, and the rest of his time in the Army in the Middle East in what was then known as Palestine.

My dad still has the leather jerkin at home with the bullet hole in. That was the jerkin he wearing when he got shot. He also got to keep a great big bayonet!

Dad lost many good friends during the war. His ‘best mate’ was killed late on the war and is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery in Germany. It’s only recently that he’s started talking about the war. I think it’s mainly because my son is in the Forces now. He’s also seen people talking about the war on the television.

Daddy’s home

I was born on the 16th of July 1946 at Harriston, Aspatria. My Dad still has the telegram he received to say that he had had a little girl. He was still away in the Army at that time. I think maybe he managed to see me once when I was a baby. Otherwise, he had never really seen me at all, other than photographs.

My father came home from the Army when I was about 2 years old. I don’t actually remember it myself. But my mother and grandmother have told me about it. When my Dad came through the door I think he thought he would be able to pick me up in his arms and hug me. It didn’t happen at all like he had imagined.

I’d never seen my Dad until then, at least as far as I could remember him. I went and hid behind my grandmother and I wouldn’t come out! My grandmother and my mother told me that this was my Daddy. I pointed at a photo that they had and said, “That’s my Daddy!� Since then, I’ve always been a ''Daddy’s girl'' and I’ve always been really proud of him. Luckily, at the moment he’s as ‘fit as a flea’ and he still likes a good lively conversation�.

Conclusion

Jackie’s told me her maternal grandmother’s name was Mary Ann Douglas and her mother’s name Rosalind Blair (née Douglas). Jackie’s first name is Mary, named after her grandmother.

It was a great honour to listen to Jackie’s personal account of the war years. It is one that I found touching. I am sure everyone who reads this account will feel the same.

Thank you!

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