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My father (service no. 1041503 Cpl H Tattersall) was stationed on Gibraltar between 23-11-42 and 12-5-44 and was in charge of the squadron photographic section. He fitted cameras to aircraft before missions and later developed and printed the films for reconnaissance purposes. He sent us parcels occasionally containing bananas which my sisiter and I hadn’t seen before. We shared some with our pals who hadn’t either!

One Christmas, I can’t remember the year, my mother, sister and I went by train to stay at my grandparents on my mother’s side, Mr and Mrs Bill Mitchell, 5 Colwell Rd, Leicester.

My mother’s brothers and one sister were all serving in the forces: Colin — RAF, Harry — South Staffs Rgt, Shirl — RAOC and Rene — WAAF. However her married sister Evelyn wasn’t but her husband George Noon was serving in the Grenadier Guards. Mum had told my sister and I beforehand that Uncle George was missing presumed killed in action in Italy, so were not to talk about it in case it upset Auntie Evelyn. We arrived in Leicester and the house was decorated with festive trimmings and a Christmas tree and my auntie Rene was on leave I think, but the atmosphere was very quiet and subdued. Christmas morning the front door-bell ranf and my auntie Evelyn opened it, a telegraph boy in a pill-box hat handed her an envelope. She came into the living room crying and handed it to my mother unopened to read. My mother opened it and cried out that Uncle George was alive and well in a German Prisoner of War Camp.
Well after that all hell broke loose! Neighbours came round, out came all the drinks and food that had been saved up for special occasions. It was the best Christmas present my aunt had or ever will have. It was one Christmas that I would not forget too!

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