大象传媒

My Dad enlisted with 11 of his school mates at the beginning of the war. They all enlisted together at Folkestone in Kent, and were sent to Chatham Kent, before going to Lowestoft. Ten of them went North ( without any training) and one was sent back to Dover in Kent, near their home town. They all thought he was the lucky one to be going back " home" but the irony was, he was lost at Dunkirk and they all returned safely at the end of the war.
My Dad was assigned to a converted trawler "The Fentonian", used for transporting oil and fuel for the tanks and troops. They had also towed an old London Barge carrying oil.

I June 1944, my Dad had been waiting on his boat in Poole Harbour, for about a month. Not knowing what was going to happen next. Meanwhile Mum was at home with My Brother and myself like most wives, and had not heard from Dad for several months. She didn't know where in the world he was or even if he was still alive, but in those day's "no news was good news." The Forces had been forbidden to write letters at this time. Everyone knew something was about to happen because of the snippets of news and the general atmospere in and around the Country. ( and the way the troops were being moved around.)
The 6th June 1944 was my Parents 6th Wedding Anniversary. A few days prior to this my Dad managed to be picked to go ashore and collect fresh supplies for the boat. Whist in the Naval Stores he got talking to a Wren whom he had not seen before or since, and didn't even ask her name. Although letter writing had been forbidden he asked her if she got the opportunity if she would send a telegram to my Mum for their Anniversary. She agreed, and he gave her all the money he had on him, and all his cigarrette allowance. He returned to his vessel not knowing for sure if she would do it but just hoped.
On the morning of the 6th June our next door neighbour called over the fence to my Mum " It's started, the invasion has started, it's just been on the wireless". They were still trying to get more news when there was a knock at the door. It was the greetings Telegram from my Dad.
Mum still didn't know where Dad was, but at least he was alive for now.
My Dad was already in Normandy, one of the first vessels to arrive on the morning of the Normandy Invasion. In fact they had gone in too close and had hit an under water obstacle and lost their propellors. They were stuck and could only sit in the middle of the action and watch, hope and pray. Two weeks later they were towed back to Portsmouth.
Mum and Dad are still alive and celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary on June 6th 2003. They have 2 children, 7 Grand children and 12 great grandchildren. I took them to Normandy for the 50th celebrations of D-day in 1994, and hope to return with them for the 60th D-Day celebrations in 2004.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.