- Contributed by听
- Radio_Northampton
- People in story:听
- Douglas Pope, Cora Pope (mother) and Bill Pope (father)
- Location of story:听
- Rushden, Northamptonshire
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A5563479
- Contributed on:听
- 07 September 2005
A photo taken of my father Bill Pope and me Douglas Pope in his arms. I think I am around one years old in this photo and this is the first time I remember meeting my father who was home from the army on leave. It was taken at the back of our house in Rushden, Northamptonshire.
(This story has been submitted to the Peope's War site by Alex Pope from the People's War team on behalf of her father Douglas Pope and has been added to the site with his permission. Mr Pope fully understands the site's terms and conditions).
It was a cold, dark night and I sat shivering, still half asleep on the edge of my bed as my mother hastily tied the cord around my thick woollen dressing gown. To the accompanying howl of the air raid siren I was scooped up and clutching my little black Scotty dog toy we rushed in pitch darkness along the landing, down the stairs and through to the kitchen where all the family huddled together under the table.
I was only around one year old but just recalling the sound of that siren can still send a shiver down my spine.
A far more pleasant awakening I had during the war was the night I blearily opened my eyes to see a soldier standing over my bed with a broad grin on his face. It is the first memory I have of my father, home on leave. But what of that huge box of chocolates he had in his hands? Well on that issue I believe my memory might just be playing tricks........
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