大象传媒

Story gathered from Elizabeth Warrent by Denis Price of the People's War Team, 大象传媒 Open Centre, Hull.

I was three years old when the War began and lived with my Mother and two older sisters down Albert Avenue in Hull. Dad, who was a former pupil of Hull Trinity House School, came from a long line of seafarers and was away an awful lot serving in the Merchant Navy.He'd been torpedoed twice early in the War but the third time he didn't survive. His ship the 'City of Pretoria'was lost in the North Atlantic on the third of March nineteen forty three.Even though I was very young I realised then that the War was a serious and sad business.
It did have its lighter side though. A few of the houses past us on Albert Avenue and over on Anlaby Road near Glencoe Street had American soldiers billeted in them. My two older sisters who'd both been born in the US as my Mother's first husband had been an American pilot in the First War, had many boyfriends among these GI'S particularly my eldest sister Barbara. I used to pass messages from my sisters to the Americans as my Mother kept a wary eye on their comings and goings even though they were welcome visitors to our home. Barbara's close friend was called Leo Wojek, he came from Chicago and was of Polish origin. I used my message carrying role to good effect with the Americans as I would demand payment in 'candy' for my services. When I look back I think I must have seemed a mercenary kid to them but you have to remember that sweets were rationed and hard to come by in those days.
As I've said Leo was a particular friend of my sister Barbara and still wrote to her regularly after the War was over. Sadly she died of TB in 1949. He married in America and called his daughter Barbara.
He even came over in about 1960 to see us but unfortunately I missed him.
Looking back I realise now what friendship means and how good times can be the result of bad, I was a child at the time but glad I had those wartime experiences.

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