- Contributed by听
- gandah
- Location of story:听
- Chester le Street, Co Durham
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A2886366
- Contributed on:听
- 02 August 2004
I was born in 1941,my Mother had me when she was 41 years old so therefore I was nearly 20 years younger than my eldest brother George who had enlisted in the Green Howards shortly after my birth.He was taken prisoner I believe in Sicily and was in a German concentration camp Stalag B13 for about 3 years.
I can still remember the day he came home although I was only about 5 years old,I remember all the family my Mother,Sister,Grandmother and Aunts preparing food with what little there was at that time.When my brother came through the door I remember hiding behind the easy chair in our sitting room as I was confused at all the excitement and shouting and crying that was going on and mostly I was a bit scared of this tall very thin stranger who was my brother George that I had never seen before.Eventually I came from behind the chair and my Father took me to my brother who sat me on his knee and started to talk to me I soon forgot my fear as he asked me about my pony(Mona)and I immediately wanted to take him to see the pony and was very upset when my Father said no as the ground was covered in snow and ice,but Father relented and went and brought Mona to the back door and being unable to attract my brothers attention as there was so many people wanting to shake his hand and hug him my Father did no more but push the door wide open and bring Mona through the kitchen and into the sitting room much to the concern of my Mother and Sister who were screaming for Father to take the horse outside in case it had an accident on the carpet and how they had just scrubbed and cleaned the said carpet in readiness for my Brothers home coming. So with much laughter my Father who found it impossible to turn Mona around as there was so little space proceeded towards the hall and took Mona out of the front door.I then was lifted on to the pony for a photo which I still have to this day.Then the serious rejoicing started with my sisters boy friend playing the piano accordian and my Father playing the (bones)and my Grandmother all four foot eleven inches of her dancing and playing a tambourine and singing (Where did you get that hat?Where did you get that hat?)There was a lot of eating and drinking and laughter that day, I even had a sip of beer out of my brothers glass but Mother did not say a word, her precious boy was home and he could do no wrong.
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