大象传媒

My father was John Dowey, he died in Dec 2003 and loved to tell me stories about his time in the RAF usually concerning Rugby. During the war he was a gunner armourer but was also very keen, and very good at playing rugby, which he did for whichever base he was on at the time. One day he whilst he was based in Yorkshire he was approached by 'a friend' who told him that Selby rugby club would like to have him play for them, he would not get paid, but would be fed very well at the end of the game. My father slipped off the base to play several times, his friends 'covering' for him. One day a group of important people were visiting the town and base and were taken to the rugby match for some entertainment, where my father was recognised. I asked him if he got into trouble and he told me 'no' but it was explained to him that if he was injured playing for Selby he would not be eligible for any form of insurance or war pension!! I could not believe this I asked my father was he really not thrown into the 'glass house', "oh no" he said only people who had 'bottled out' on missions over Germany were thrown into the 'glass house'.

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