大象传媒

My mum and dad met while serving in the Army. I was a twinkle in their eyes and born in Manchester in 1949.

My dad was an R.S.M. serving with the Lancashire Regiment. My mum was with the A.T.S. They both had a sad and funny time in the Army. My dad had a lot of medals, the Burma Star and lots more besides, also a lot of ribbons. He was a P.T. Instructor while serving in the army and as a child after the war, when I was born, he used to take me on to his parade ground to watch him pace the ground ready for a big march with his men.

In the war, my mum was a cook and she used to stand on the Hoe watching the dog fights with the planes over the Sound .

They got married while they were both in the Army but could not afford a cake. Years later, when I grew up I bought them one. They were over the moon.

They both helped and had very active lives in the war but never said too much about the sad things they saw. On a good day I could get them to talk about it. They lost a lot of good friends.

My mum went A.W.leave once - not a good thing to do. They were given what they called "jankers" for that in the Army.

There is really a lot more to write about my mum and dad. They served in Germany and my dad met a lot of great people in the U.K.

My dad was born in Manchester and he used to play football in the streets with the first Manchester United Football Team, who were killed in the air crash. Before the war, he went down the coal mine and he could have become a school teacher, so the war put paid to that.

My mum, Hilda Rose was born in Cawsands and her dad was Jago, a former fisherman in Cawsands years ago.

All these miles apart growing up yet two great people met, joined the army and got wounded and fought for their country. Now, like a lot of their great friends are now laid to rest.

Their little girl grew up to marry a R/M Commando who served his country but has since passed away. Their son who is still living, who served his country in the Gulf War, also got a medal.

These were all among other great people and you would have been proud to meet my mum and dad.

During the war they had to be careful not to say much as it cost lives. That should apply today in 2005, as wars still go on. We would not be here today if it were not for a lot of men like my dad. This applies to the old war veterans in London homes. The young have a lot to be thankful for.

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