大象传媒

In June 1940 I left the beach at Dunkirk in a small boat, which took me to a ship, which had recently carried sheep; the evidence was there to see. Twenty four hours later, after having been fed sandwiches and hot drinks at Dover and been given a pencil, paper and envelope to write home, all by the angels of the Salvation Army, the train I was in pulled into a large railway station. By the accents and speech of the people on the platform, I guessed it to be Newcastle upon Tyne.

We were all unloaded and then I was put in charge of about seventy men of my regiment, and put onto a smaller train which eventually puffed its way through the green field and hills of the countryside for about an hour. Eventually the train stopped at a small station where an Army Officer and red-capped Military Policeman asked me to line the men up on the platform. All the men were able to keep their weapons but the ammunition and explosives had to be placed in the baskets provided. When this had been completed the Military Policeman waved to a porter who opened the station doors. Immediately there was a crowd of men and women on the platform being ordered into a simple line. I was given paper and pencil and ordered to record the soldier鈥檚 name and with whom he was going as a guest. These folks were the people of Consett, who were taking in men who had not had their boots off for about ten days, were dirty and unshaven and who had suffered bombing and strafing on the exposed beaches of Dunkirk. I was left on the platform on my own. A young police constable came along and said, 鈥測ou had better come with me Sergeant鈥�. I did and he took me home and introduced me to his wife and showed my their new baby.

In a very short while I was in a warm scented bath, my clothes had disappeared and when I had finished bathing and shaving, the policeman came with pyjamas, dressing gown and slippers, and a message, 鈥渄on鈥檛 be long, breakfast in ten minutes鈥�. As the policeman was about six feet tall and I was five feet seven inches I looked and felt like something out of a fairytale. Anyway, it gave us a laugh. Meanwhile the breakfast was cooking and the beautiful smell of the bacon drifted all around and house and I was delighted when I was called in to breakfast. I was surprised that we were not eating together, but the lady apologised and said they had eaten earlier. The cooked breakfast was followed by toast and marmalade and cups of hot tea; it was not just a breakfast, it was a magnificent feast.

Unfortunately, my stay with them was short-lived as I was called back to duty. I left them in a uniform that had been washed and ironed and I felt like a soldier again. Some days later I realised why they had not eaten with me. They had given me their week鈥檚 ration of bacon and eggs.

I will always remember the policeman and his wife and the people of Consett for their kindness and generosity.

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