大象传媒

OVER THE WALL WEDDING NIGHT

This is my parent鈥檚 story. They met in the early nineteen thirties in Southsea, Hampshire. Dad was a regular soldier in the Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment.

Within two weeks of meeting he was posted to India for a six year posting. He wanted to marry, but my Mum was more cautious. They then had a six year courtship by letter. They got engaged by post from Calcutta! A wedding was planned for the 31st August 1939, on my Dad鈥檚 return to the U.K. The day before the wedding Dad was recalled from Southsea to Battalion Headquarters in York. Despite numerous entreaties from all and sundry Dad had to go, so the wedding had to be cancelled, together with its two tiered cake and salmon. Mum followed Dad to York and had lodgings there.

On the 3rd September war was declared. They applied for a special licence from York Minster, which they got and they were due to be married in the afternoon of the 7th September. My Dad said that that morning was one of the most hectic of his life, because he was called in front of the Commanding Officer three times. One on reprimand because he was incorrectly dressed (he had been promoted and didn鈥檛 have the right insignia). He had to go back again to be officially promoted, and the third time he had to ask for permission to leave the parade square in the afternoon to get married.

In the afternoon he took a fellow soldier and his girlfriend to his wedding to act as witnesses, and they were married at Fulford Church, York. The wedding feast was tinned salmon sandwiches, made by my Mum鈥檚 spinster landladies. Dad returned to barracks, and that night was in charge of the guard. However, after mounting the guard, he changed uniforms with a mate, and he went over the wall and spent his wedding night at Mum鈥檚 lodgings, making sure he was back in time to dismount the guard.

Dad spent several days standing in full kit with the rest of the battalion waiting to be mobilised. Most of the men were sent to France. Dad鈥檚 friend, who was his best man, subsequently married his girlfriend in similar circumstances he went to France and never came back. My Dad was sent all round Britain training new recruits, and my Mum followed him wherever he was posted. My Dad saw action in Iceland and Egypt.

This story was submitted to the People's War site by June Woodhouse (volunteer) of the CSV Action Desk at 大象传媒 Hereford and Worcester on behalf of Vivienne Wall (author) and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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