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"This is an extract from a biography I am writing of my parents and family and much of this is my recollection of the wars years together with anecdotes related by my parents Bill and Lillian Hetherington"

Bill said that our newly acquired Scottie dog, Mac, would be company for Lily during his long days at work in the factory and, as later frequently happened, during the World War II years, at the Admiralty and Home Office where he would regularly meet with military and government officials. He proudly told of the occasion when he met the great Winston Churchill — in the gent’s toilet in the Admiralty! Bill would recall that Churchill seemed friendly but exuded an air of authoritism.

Bill’s previous war [WW1] and merchant navy experiences qualified him for war service but his development work in the field of sea flares etc., meant that he was too valuable to the war effort at home. He therefore joined `Dad’s Army’ and was frequently called up for military exercises and to serve during the many air raids over London. His rank is unknown but the fact that he wore a revolver and occasionally allowed his two sons to play with it under his strict supervision, and to Lily’s annoyance and worry, implies that he probably held the rank of an officer. It must have been very difficult for them both, as it was for many who experienced the war years, but for Lily having to look after two sons, William Andrew [known as Andrew after his Grandfather - his Grandmother had suggested this rather than he be called wee Willie to distinguish him from his Father] born 16th March 1939, in Barkingside Maternity Home, just before Bill’s father died, and Ian, born 2nd February 1941 in Glasgow, it must have been particularly stressful. She often recalled those years and looked back on times of fear and dread at what may happen if the awful invasion of England took place. Bill had given Lily a small .32 revolver for protection of herself and Andrew and Ian, in the event of an enemy paratrooper landing in the garden. There is no recollection of any ammunition being on hand but the threat must have been a real possibility for Bill to take such action. Perhaps at that time in the war, he could have been privilege to secret information not available to the general public. Lily later would remark that rather than shooting any intruder, she would invite him in for a cup of tea! The revolver fortunately was used for nothing more than as an exercise tool for Andrew to practice and develop his skills at dismantling and reassembly of mechanical devices. This kept him amused during the air raids, sheltering in the steel cage [Anderson Shelter?] located in their dining room. This served as a shelter and dining table and Bill and Lily would often carry the boys, with bedclothes and mattresses, downstairs and into the shelter when the sirens went off warning of an impending raid. They would endeavour not to wake the children but more often than not they would wake to be comforted by their parents. On the occasions when Bill was on duty during a raid, when there was a loud bang Lily would dismiss it as `it’s just Daddy throwing a Thunder Flash`. These were practice bombs used in exercises but of course it was nothing of the sort. The boys were too young to appreciate the seriousness of the situation and it was only in later years that they realised or had some understanding of the utter fear and desperation that Bill and Lily must have suffered.

The pet dog, Mac was a great companion to the whole family and he was an excellent watchdog with a tremendous bark which belied his size. Any intruder would have been readily dispatched at the mere sound thinking that some enormous beast was about to leap out at them. Mac seemed to understand the needs of the family and cared for everybody in his own way. Occasionally he would be out of the house during an air raid and it was always a source of worry that he may be hit by shrapnel [fragments of exploded bombs and shells] but he always returned unscarred. However on one occasion he went missing for three nights and the whole family were distraught at the thought of him having perished under the rubble of some bombed out building. Eventually he returned to a very relieved and again complete family, totally unhurt but with a rope tight around his neck, the end of which he had managed to bite through to release himself!

During the war, the Flying Bombs, V1’s and V2 rockets were a horrendous threat to the South East of England and Andrew vividly recalls visiting the crater made by a Flying Bomb which had landed the night before in the field at the back of the house. It had smashed every pane of glass on that side of the house and this was after an announcement had been made over the wireless that there would be no further action over London and everybody could sleep in their owns beds that night! The family did sleep in their own beds and Andrew and Ian, whose bedroom was on that side of the house, amazingly escaped even the slightest of injuries in spite of all the glass fragments which became scattered all over their room. This was not the only escape the family experienced. Just after the war started, Bill sent Lily and Andrew to Glasgow to stay with his Mother while he continued his work in London. It was thought that there was much less chance of danger in his home town but this was not to be. The house was bombed and the story goes that everybody totally escaped injury, including Andrew who was in his cot when the explosion caused the lock from a door to be blown off and projected like a bullet across the top of his cot! Following that incident Bill and Lily decided that they should all remain together as a family wherever it may be. There were however periods when Lily, Andrew and Ian did leave London to stay with Bill’s relatives in Dumfriesshire, particularly Lochmaben. Bill’s two sisters, Ella and Doris and their families from Glasgow would also be there and often great family parties took place. But even in that remote part of Britain, the war was never far away as Andrew recalls the day when he opened the door of the cottage, which led immediately onto the main street in Lochmaben, to find a soldier right under him lying prone on the ground, Lee Enfield rifle in hand aimed at some imaginary enemy further down the street. There was always a competition amongst all the kids as to who could collect the most empty cartridge shells.

Bill’s merchant navy experience as a seaman was nearly in demand during the preparations for the evacuation of the British forces from Dunkirk. All seaworthy ships of all sizes but mainly small ones which could get close to the shore, were required to sail to Dunkirk and return with the troops. Experienced hands were required also to crew and pilot these boats and there was every chance that Bill would have to help but at the last minute he was relieved of that duty. The reasons are not known but one can only assume that his work was too important to risk his loss. Many years later [in about 1966 just after he retired] his wartime work was recognised when he was nominated for the MBE but the powers that be unfortunately considered him not worthy of such an honour; many knew differently including all his colleagues who always held him in high esteem, this most honest and kindly Scot deserved far more recognition than just the two WWI campaign medals proudly kept by his eldest son.

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