大象传媒

This story was added to the People's War site by a volunteer from 大象传媒 Newcastle on behalf of Maureen French. Maureen French fully understands the site's terms and the story has been added to the site with her permission.

"Just before VJ day in Draycott, Derby, a US jeep drew up next door to my aunt's house.

Loud "Happy Birthday" music woke up the whole neighbourhood - at 6am!

I was 14 years old. I looked out of the window to see a large group of black American troops, dancing and singing and carrying a HUGE chocolate cake - the size of a cartwheel! - into the birthday girl's home.

I'd never seen a black soldier, or anything like the size of the cake they carried, or heard jazz like that. There was so much laughter, cammaraderie and delight - they left for America the next day.

Another time, jsut before D-Day, we had American troops in a camp about 200 yards from our house. The camp cook saved saved his swil for Dad's two pigs and he collected it every evening.

Constant reminders were given not to put coffee grounds (tons of those)paper cups, razor blades etc into the swill because Mother had the job of screening it - a dangerous occupation at times. No notice was taken of Dad's pleas so Mum called to see the cook.

Cook: "You're so much like my Mum at home"
Mum: "Poor lad, so far from home... I'll knit you a pullover"

From then on - when Mum fished through the swill she found large tins of ham and huge tins of Apricots, Peaches, Blueberries, Cream, Jam, Jelly - one wipe over, a rinse under the tap, opener at the ready and one very happy family around the tea table.

P.S. I always thought for years that American's ate their streaks with jam! - the troops gave us a sunday lunch before they left - beef with all the trimmings - I'd never seen Cranberry sauce!"

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