- Contributed by听
- Thanet_Libraries
- People in story:听
- Ernest Samuel Payne
- Location of story:听
- Goldington Bedfordshire
- Article ID:听
- A2635959
- Contributed on:听
- 15 May 2004
Joan Smith came in to Hartsdown Leisure Centre in Margate and told this story to Steve Murphy.
My father, Ernest Samuel Payne, was captured in Thessolonika Greece. He was serving with the Royal Army Service Corps as a driver. After capture he was imprisoned in Stalag VIII B near the Polish/German border.
We lived in Goldington, near Bedford, as a person we didn鈥檛 know our Dad, we couldn鈥檛 remember him. My Granny, though, if we were naughty, would say 鈥榃hen your dad gets home he will smack your bottom.鈥 So, at times, we were not too keen to see him. But I remember the day we did 鈥 just like it was yesterday. Mum had put Union Jacks in the hedge and around the door.
It was a Sunday afternoon and we were walking home from Sunday school with Sheila Cope, her mother and new baby brother Richard in the pram. We were most interested to see the new baby when Mrs Cope said, 鈥淪houldn鈥檛 you be more interested in seeing your father, he鈥檚 home now!鈥
We ran! Coming round the corner we saw him in the gateway. He was on one knee and his arms open wide. We ran into his arms. Mum was not there! She had been given a lift to Bedford Station to meet him but his train was early so they must have passed on the way. At that moment she returned and was out of the car before it stopped! The look on her face was wonderful 鈥 she was lit up with joy!
My memory of this is clear 鈥 she was wearing a brown boucl茅 coat, a green criss crossed felt hat, very fashionable. She rushed into his arms and we all went into the house. By this time all of the neighbours were out of their houses too.
After the excitement we, just like any kids, wanted to know what presents he brought back for us. As if he had been on holiday 鈥 and bless his heart 鈥 he pulled over his kit bag, reached way down into the bottom and pulled out two packets of coloured pencils! Where he got them from I do not know!
My father passed away in 1982 and mother in 1998 and when I was sorting out he garden shed after her death, I came across those Union Jacks from the hedge that day. They were carefully wrapped in plastic. My father鈥檚 things, his letters, pay book and bible are with my grandson 鈥 Alexander 鈥 living near Goldington where I had such a wonderful memory!
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