大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War website by Doreen Bennett on behalf of Brenda Joyce Chesterfield (nee Brown), the author and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

REDISCOVERY OF MY DAD and the Family Unit.

My first recollections were as a child of four, I was living with my Mum and my brother Maurice who was two years older than me, at my grandmother's and grandfather's home (Mary and Reginald Brimicombe) in Penhale Road Penwithick. At the time I was not told that my father was away to war, after all we were very protected by the family.

The reason we were living (in rather cramped conditions may I add) was that Mum and Dad's home at Gower, St Austell was destroyed and just about everything they owned. Dad was abroad, (Mum was not told where) and she was pregnant with me. For a time or until after I was born she stayed in her mother in law鈥檚 home (Gran Brown) and then she went home with us to her own Mum and Dad鈥檚 house (Gran and Granddad鈥檚 Brim).

My brother had started school, so I used to walk to our local shop to collect the paper; it was only just a little way from Gran鈥檚 house. The shop was run by The Sturbridges, it was a very close community and everyone knew each other and all the local gossip, the shop was always friendly. This particular day I had walked down to the shop as usual, waiting in the shop I heard the green double decked bus stop (right outside then) but did not take any notice of any one getting off, until one lady, Mrs May Dyer bent down and said to me 鈥� Brenda that鈥檚 you Daddy getting off the bus!鈥�. I looked around and saw this man with a khaki uniform, a funny large brimmed hat (same colour) who was throwing a long sausage shape back up over his shoulder. Me being a very friendly child (so I have been told) said 鈥淗ello do you want me to take you to see Mum, Gran and Grandad?鈥� Everyone in the shop said 鈥淲elcome home. Well done Sim鈥� and off we went. Mum was overjoyed as if she did not even know he was coming home, we were all so glad to have him back safe and sound.

We settled down after a while although my brother took much longer to accept him. Dad was very poorly soon after; they said he had malaria from being in the jungles of Burma where he was posted. Also they had a dreadful period (which I do not remember at all) just before I was born when my older sister Pam passed away with meningitis and Dad could not get home as he was so far away fighting the war.

They never spoke much about it but that was the way my dear Dad was. He had the Burma Star George Medal. They were wonderful parents and I think we were blessed with a good family unit. Dad was 65 when he passed away in 1980 and Mum was 85 when she passed away in 2003.

I thank them and miss them.

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