大象传媒

Young Harry grew up in Hackney in the East End of London but found himself in the RAF during the war stationed in Lincolnshire - first at East Kirkby then at Fiskerton. He was 鈥楢ckney 鈥楢rry to his crew mates.

He was a flight engineer and carried out 39 bombing raids in Lancasters. At the end of the war he was proud to be part of Operation Manna 鈥� dropping food parcels over Holland.

He was 20 when VE Day came around. He and a pal biked into Lincoln from RAF Fiskerton. As they cycled down Monks Road they kept getting dragged into the many pubs along there to share a drink. He eventually made it to the Stonebow a little worse for wear and joined the throng of people singing and dancing.

Harry saw an American waving the stars and stripes and boasting he had won the war for them. It really annoyed him so he took one of the bunting flags and pinned it onto the American鈥檚 back. The crowd started laughing but a lass said: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 horrible, doing that to the Americans鈥�.

He took a shine to the pretty blonde who told him off. Her name was Mavis. He walked her home and made a date.

They were married on 7 January 1948 at All Saints Church on Monks Road and have this year celebrated their 67th Anniversary.

Image: Harry and Mavis on their wedding, and the couple today

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