- Contributed by听
- RogerBrandon
- People in story:听
- Douglas Fawcett, Joyce Cowper (Fawcett), David Fawcett
- Location of story:听
- London
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A2881965
- Contributed on:听
- 31 July 2004
Written by Joyce Cowper (now Jeffery) but entered for her by Roger Brandon.
Douglas Fawcett and I, Joyce Cowper, first met in 1937 and became sweethearts. We travelled together from Blackheath station each day to London, I to work as a comptometer operator in Smithfield and he to his work in the banking hall of the Abbey Road Building Society in baker Street. Douglas joined the Territorials and was called up at the beginning of the war, he was with the BEF as acting interpreter in the Queens Royal 56th Regiment London Division. Not being able to leave the shores at Dunkirk he marched with many others and was taken off at Abbeyville. Reported missing to his parents it was with joy we welcomed him home later.
In February 1941 we married and had a few days honeymoon in Bournmouth. David, our son, was born on April 5th 1942 and Doug had 48 hours compassionate leave. By June 1942 he had left for the North African campaign, from there onto India via Cape Town, and eventually to Salerno and the Italian campaign. He was given the M.M. on the field for bravery in carrying a wounded fellow soldier to safety. He was also made a Lieutenant. We did not receive many letters home and it was a very anxious time. I sent photos of David and it was good to eventually hear they had been received.
Doug survived through all the fighting right up to the road to Bologna but on the 28the September 1944 he was killed in action at a farm in Cesena and is buried in a little cemetery there. In 1944 I and David went with the War Graves Commission to visit the quiet spot in Italy.
Joyce Jeffery
Castle Cary
July 2004.
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