- Contributed by听
- missylizzie
- People in story:听
- JOAN MARGARET TOMLINSON
- Location of story:听
- MANCHESTER
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A6023486
- Contributed on:听
- 05 October 2005
JOAN MARGARET TOMLINSON ARMY No. 114839 A.T.S. SERGEANT.
PRIOR TO JOINING THE A.T.S.IN 1941, IN WHICH I SERVED AS A STAFF DRIVER UNTIL DECEMBER 1945, I WORKED IN TRAFFORD PARK, MANCHESTER, AND DID MY STINT WITH A TEAM OF FIRST-AID WORKERS AND FIREWATCHES.
MY EXPERIENCES DURING THE MANCHESTER BLITZ WERE SOMETHING I WILL NEVER FORGET.
THEREFORE I THOUGHT THIS POEM WOULD EMBRACE ALL MY WARTIME MEMORIES.
BUTTONS
ROOTING THROUGH MY BUTTON TIN
WARTIME MEMORIES FLOODED IN
MEETINGS, LAUGHTER, FAREWELLS, TEARS,
DARKEST HOURS, THE HOPES AND FEARS.
A BUTTON FROM A SOLDIERS TUNIC
THE PRICE WE HAD TO PAY FOR MUNICH
AND DUNKIRK, WHEN A NATION PRAYED,
INVASION THAT WAS TWICE DELAYED.
FROM FADED GREATCOAT, AIR FORCE BLUE
A CRIPPLED PLANE, DEPLETED CREW
NO WELCOME BUNK, NO REMINISCING
ONE U-BOAT SUNK, ONE AIRCRAFT MISSING.
THE BLITZ, THE SIRENS, A.R.P.
CANTEENS, ENDLESS CUPS OF TEA.
THE BOMBS THAT FELL, THE FIRES THAT FLARED
ALL WERE INVOLVED, AND PEOPLE CARED.
A BUTTON FROM A WEDDING DRESS
TIMES WERE HARD, BUT NONETHELESS
BLACK MARKET COUPONS HALF A CROWN
WE SETTLED UP AND SETTLED DOWN.
THEY SAY THAT MEMORY CAN PLAY TRICKS
ON SOMEONE JUST TURNED EIGHTY-SIX
BUT STILL WITH CONFIDENCE OF YOUTH
I KNOW MY BUTTONS HOLD THE TRUTH.
Written by Joan M. Thompson nee Tomlinson 2005.
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