- Contributed by听
- The CSV Action Desk at 大象传媒 Wiltshire
- People in story:听
- Bob Beales, Bill Middleton, Gwen Middleton, Mr.Tooth the Dentist.
- Location of story:听
- Swindon Area, France and Belgium
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A4376180
- Contributed on:听
- 06 July 2005
As told to Carol Young by her mother Gwen Beales, nee Middleton.
These were Bob鈥檚 words to mum in early May 1940. A soldier in the King鈥檚 Royal Rifle Brigade Bob had been 鈥榗ourting鈥 mum since his transfer to Chisledon Camp in November 1939. A postcard Bob sent from Dover 22 May 1940 told mum he 鈥榳as on the move.鈥 He was badly wounded and captured at Calais and eventually after hospitalisation in France and Belgium was POW at Stalag 8B Lamsdorf. Many letters and Red Cross parcels were sent by mum 鈥 many never received. 17th May 1945 a telegram arrived - 鈥 Arrived safe see you soon鈥. The street decorated for VE Day 鈥 soon had many new placards on lamp posts and banners 鈥斺榃elcome Home Bob!鈥
The next day a phone call put through to mum at the wages dept at Marine Mountings where she had worked since 1943 was her young brother telling her that Bob鈥檚 here! She remembers asking what he looked like 鈥 Bill said 鈥斺榯he same but no teeth!鈥 Mum was frightened to go home 鈥 delayed for 2 hours 鈥 arrived finally to family gathering around table 鈥 鈥淗ello!鈥 she remembers saying. After tea they went for a walk 鈥 mum remembers Bob glancing over his shoulder every few minutes 鈥 a habit from years of camp living. He kept his promise 鈥 he left just before mum鈥檚 19yh birthday and they next were together a day before her 24th! 鈥擲o 5 years later they got engaged!
p.s. The morning after Bob鈥檚 arrival he went to Mr Tooth the dentist (yes Really!) in Wellington St and by the afternoon had a set of teeth given free!
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