大象传媒

I was 15 years old and on firewatch at the top of the Bowmakers building in Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, when we saw the many little boats assembled in Bournemouth bay, ready to go to Dunkirk, although we didn't really know too much about where they were off to. The Bournemouth Belle and the Skylarke were amongst them. The next morning they had all gone.

My next memory is of my mother being asked if she would allow 3 very dirty and tired frenchmen to have a bath in our house. I remember we got very hot as she had to heat the water and light the back boiler in the kitchen, yet it was warm outside. They had their baths then went back to Hillview Road School where they were sleeping on the floor.

The next day the same 3 frenchmen came round for a meal with me and my parents. They had no English and we had no French. I remember standing on our back lawn trying to talk to them.

After the meal they went off, and we never saw them again.

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