- Contributed by听
- csvdevon
- People in story:听
- Margaret Joan Howes, Margaret Grace Howes, Thomas Howes
- Location of story:听
- Worcester and Kempsey Village/Fowey, Cornwall
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A4119590
- Contributed on:听
- 26 May 2005
This story has been written onto the 大象传媒 People's War site by CSV Storygatherer Coralie, on behalf of Margaret Joan Howes. The story has been added to the site with her permission and Margaret fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.
My Dad was ex-Navy but in Septmeber 1940 he went back to Devonport Barracks. Eventually he was sent to serve in a ship called 'The Belfort' located off FOWEY in Cornwall, but the crew were billeted ashore (L and PA it was called) and in the Summer of 1941 he asked his landlady if my Mother and I could come there for a week, and it was arranged for June. I had never been to Cornwall and was really looking forward to it as I put in for my week's holiday from my work. I was a teenager and we all worked for the War in those days.
We were asked not to travel on the trains if possible as they were used to move troops, so we felt a bit guilty when we boarded the train at WORCESTER, SHRUB HILL. There were lots of troops on it, all with their large GAS MASKS, and I imagined the noise of the wheels was saying 'IS YOUR JOURNEY REALLY NECESSARY?' as the POSTERS on the walls said. However, it was interesting to see all the BARRAGE BALLOONS as we reached TEMPLE MEADS, BRISTOL and changed trains. We thought we might get a drink but I believe tea was being served in JAM-JARS some of the time! We soon got the CORNISH TRAIN and could see the bomb-damage as we got to Plymouth, but as we crossed the BRUNEL BRIDGE into CORNWALL it was magic. Rhododendrons and flowers were everywhere in the lovely June weather.
FOWEY TOWN itself was unbelievable, and the cottage on the hill. My small bedroom was right against the road with the 'BLACK-OUT' at the window. What a week we had, including home-made CORNISH PASTIES. We went on the ferry to BODINNECK and sat in the sun. I imagined the DU MAURIERS lived there, as I had recently read 'REBECCA' and my Dad said he had seen ANGELA DU MAURIER. The week went all too quickly and we got back to WORCESTER and four more years of the war, but I knew it was a week I would never forget.
漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo