- Contributed by听
- pipnorth
- People in story:听
- denis (pip) north
- Location of story:听
- the fox pub, ibstone, bucks
- Background to story:听
- Royal Air Force
- Article ID:听
- A2009864
- Contributed on:听
- 10 November 2003
Xmas Day 1942, in a little country pub,the landlord (a disabled OLD CONTEMPTIBLE,his wife and their sons,17 and 11 years old, are about to sit down to an early lunch before opening at 12 o'clock.
The telephone rings and the 17 year old answers, it is their daughter-in-law's father to say that the eldest son had been killed in action with the 1st Army in Tunisia.
Needless to say it was a different atmosphere to that of a few minutes before, but after a brief discussion, it was agreed that they would keep the tragic news to themselves and not spoil the Christmas for the village and so all Christmas and Boxing Day a smiling face was shown to all.
the 17 year old went on to serve as a sergeant in the RAF in India, Burma and Thailand (Siam).
I am the 17 year old, now 78 years old. The youngest son died in an accident whilst serving with REME after the War.
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