大象传媒

This story was submitted by Maureen Tomison and has been added to the website on behalf of David Sandford with his permission. He fully understands the site and the site鈥檚 terms and conditions

Men and Horses

In September 1939 I was 12 staying at my parents鈥� cottage in the country in France. It soon became obvious that war was approaching. Posters calling up different categories were posted regularly at the local mairie, (village hall). Slowly the men vanished from the fields leaving their families to bring in the harvest. One day all the church bell rang out mournfully. This we knew meant general mobilisation. We went into the local market town and were astonished to see the main square full of horsess which had also been called up. In one corner the local vet was giving them their 鈥榤edical鈥�. I will always remember the scene of the horses being taken away. At that time most of the work on the land was carried out with horses. Tractors were rare. Our neighbour was fortunate in that that farm used stallions, which were not mobilised because they are difficult to handle.
Above all I remember distinctly the air of deep depression 鈥� here we go again!! Only a quarter of a century before, a large part of older generation had not survived that war. I can still feel the pervading sense of gloom as I write this.鈥�

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