大象传媒

With the 60th anniversary of the D Day landings on 6th June 2004 my memory comes flooding back to the evenings in the Deep Underground shelters below the normal underground. A vast area with bunk beds, kitchens, first aid area, dining space and area for meetings. As a Red Cross member prior to the war, I was asked by my Commandant Mr Nash to continue to serve during the war. This I agreed to do first during the blitz and then in the Deep Shelters. It was a very sad experience with forces from the USA, CAnada and the Free forces of Europe. They would appear one evening, be around for 2 or 3 nights and then gone to an unknown destination. It was not First Aid they needed but to talk about their families and show some photographs. They would talk to me about home, will they return? They asked me for my prayers and to pray they returned safely. As a Methodist this I promised to do. I remember very clearly a soldier asking to be wakened at 5.45am so that he could get to the washroom first. I thought I recognised his bunk so I said "Sir, you wished to be wakened at 5.45am". The soldier pulled the grey blanket from his head and replied "Nurse, do you want to die a horrible death?" - obviously the wrong man! The behaviour of the forces was impeccable, many asked if I knew much about London, what was it like before the war. I explained about Hackney, the stores and small shops closing on Thursday afternoons and one man said" Good God woman why don't you close your side walks and done with it?"
I would make friends with the men and they would talk about home and I promised to continue the conversation the next day. Unfortunately they were moved to the next placement before that conversation could finish. For me it was sad so many young men fighting for the freedom of others some never to return. Recently this all came back to me when I found a Dutch Bible in my husband's study, found by me during these years from Flying Officer Hetebrij of the Dutch Air Force. I contacted a Dutch person I know locally and the then contacted some Dutch friends who said the man who owned the Bible died in 1985 but has a son living in Reading (Berkshire). The son was very keen to meet with me especially as his father did not talk much about the war. On 10th May at Stevenage Council Offices I met with him to officially hand over the Bible.
In war it is not only the fighting forces that face death and stress, the families waiting at home for news of their loved ones were suffering and also feared the flying bombs. There is anguish on both sides. My other concern was for the Jewish people either in the forces or at home, what would happen if a Jewish soldier was taken prisoner and on the Home Front, their worries about Hitler invading Britain.
This is the last occasion when D Day will be observed by the nation, let us all make it a day of Peace for the World.
Connie Rees MBE

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