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Jim attended the ´óÏó´«Ã½ War Memorial Rededication Ceremony at The Mailbox on 14 Nov 2004. Afterwards he told this story which has been entered by a volunteer.

I don’t like to tell stories about myself at D-Day. I was just one of many men and we all did our bit. I remember my demobilisation though.

We all had to go to the demob centre at York where I was given my demob suit: it was my first ever suit and I was very pleased with it indeed. It was a grey pinstripe suit and with it I received lovely suede shoes. Each centre had a slightly different demob suit so it got to a point where you could tell by looking at a man’s suit where he had been demobbed!

I remember seeing a lot of spivs hanging around the demob centres. They used to offer servicemen £5 for their ‘demob box’. This contained your suit, collar and tie and a few other bits and pieces that the spivs would then sell on the black market. Some servicemen would get one over on them by accepting the fiver but handing over a box containing their uniform instead!

After the Second World War there was plenty of work available for returning servicemen. Not like after the First War — I remember Dad telling me about the long queues of men waiting for jobs then. No it was wonderful.

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