大象传媒

My family鈥檚 war began in a way in January 1938 when my heavily pregnant mother and me (aged 5) said a tearful goodbye to my father, a regular soldier, a sergeant in the Royal Artillery, on his way to Singapore, on a railway platform in Marske. 2 days later mum gave birth to my sister Patricia. She (mum) was left at home with 3 little girls 鈥� me (5), Anne (4) and Baby Pat. Life went on for us with letters and photographs from dad.
Dad was trying to secure married quarters for us in Singapore. But it wasn鈥檛 until the summer of 1939 that this was arranged, when a passage was arranged for September 10th 1939 on the troop ship 鈥淒unera鈥�.
Imagine the excitement. We were taken to a clinic for vaccination, inoculations etc and mum packed a steamer trunk with linens, clothes etc. Mum gave up our little cottage and the four of us, furniture and all, moved in with my grandparents and aunt in their small cottage preparity for the voyage to Singapore.
Sunday September 3rd 1939 I remember as a bright sunny morning and we had travelled to Great Ayton to say farewell to my other grandparents (Dad鈥檚 parents). I was playing in the garden with my cousin when we were called into the house to find mum and grandma in tears 鈥� war had been declared. A few days later a telegram arrived cancelling our sailing. We were devastated and so disappointed that our great adventure was cancelled. We were then left in that very little overcrowded cottage of my grandparents. As the war proceeded my father was writing home saying he was so worried about us and the war, saying he wished we were safe with him in Singapore!!!
Meanwhile life for us in Marske became quite exciting as the 23rd and 25th H.A.A. Regiments arrived to take over the WWI camp and aerodrome long deserted. Our little village became a centre of activity; soldiers marching, big guns and armoured vehicles everywhere. The sad thing was the beach was mined and out of bounds. Village folk opened their homes to these troops including my family. This for us children was exciting.
Then came February 1942 and horrible shock at the fall of Singapore. I still have in my possession a telegram dated 15th February 1942. It says 鈥淎lls well. Love Ted鈥� from dad. For several months we didn鈥檛 know whether dad was dead or alive, then came a notification that he was a POW. During the next 3 陆 years all we received were 2 printed Japanese post cards which I still have.
The came August 15th 1945 and we eagerly awaited dad鈥檚 return. Several weeks passed and then came the dreaded telegram saying that he had died January 9th 1944 on the infamous 鈥淩ailway of death鈥�. The true story of the horrors committed by the Japanese to both POWs and civilians came to light. We can only be grateful that we did not reach Singapore.
I have met many POWs and they tell me that the film 鈥淏ridge on the River Kwai鈥� makes it look like a Butlins holiday camp compared to the real horrors they went through.
Mum died fairly young before she could afford to visit dad鈥檚 grave in the beautifully kept cemetery at the Kanchanaburi on the River Kwai.
My dad鈥檚 2 brother鈥檚 returned from war safely; Leslie from a German POW Camp and Fred from being torpedoed at sea.
In 1950 I joined the WRNS and subsequently married a sailor.

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