There are 3 people in this photo - my father, my mother and my unborn oldest sister, though she only found that out after they were both gone.Mother - a model whose career was cut short by the war; and Father - whose war was cut short by the bomber he was in, coming to ground in Kent, with he (a rear gunner) the only passenger. The war resumed for him shortly afterwards though. It did for my mother too - she was blown out of London and into Somerset by German Doodlebugs, and 1000 pound bombs falling on the East End. He was blown back into hospital by a German spy and a poisoned cup of tea.
My generation had it so easy - no war, no National Service, no Vietnam, no conflict.
Curly, eh, Moll?
ReplyDeleteyou did, Tom. Was college expensive there?
ReplyDeleteTom, wonderful picture, very sad story. I hope we never forget how close we all (yes the US too) came to living in a very different world. My uncle served in the US Army in WWII and was shot down over Germany and thus a POW for - I'm not sure how many years. My husband's father gave his life during the Vietnam war and I currently have a nephew serving his third tour in Iraq. With all the political hoopla today, we have lost sight of those, all around the world, and throughout history that serve, suffer and are forever changed, as are their families. Ann
ReplyDeleteAnd I am ashamed that I don't know how long my uncle was a POW. It was almost 20 years later that I came along and he never talked to anyone about it. Now, I must find out. Ann
ReplyDeleteLovely photo, especially your mother's outfit for me as a vintage fashion enthusiast. But please tell about the German spy and a poisoned cup of tea!
ReplyDeleteNo Grouch - college was almost free.
ReplyDeleteI really believe that no conflict has been so justifiable as the fight against the Nazis, Ann, but that's not to say the ordinary troops deserve less respect because of the stupid politicians.
Click on the red words, 'German spy' to read an explanation from an early post, Elegance.
P.S. - I have added a couple of photos of the stricken Wellington that my dad was dragged from in the 'Bomber Command' post' via the red words, Elegance. He was a very lucky man, and I have been a very lucky one too, but for different reasons. I only found those pictures after he had died, btw.
ReplyDeleteDon't you love these memories Tom. My dad enlisted after he lied about his age...was a rear gunner in the berlin air lift.
ReplyDeleteOur generation had it so hard...no war, no National Service, no Vietnam, no conflict...
Our gardener's son did National Service (he must have been one of the last). He went away as an ordinary village lad, and returned as a motor-biking Teddy boy; I was very impressed. I felt somewhat cheated when they did away with it.
ReplyDeleteIn my 1950s home town, we had a terrifying, 7 foot tall Teddy Boy (made even taller by 3 inch crepe soles and a six inch high quiff). If he caught you looking at him (and it was impossible not to) he would shout out, "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT????!!!!!!!"
ReplyDeleteI'm just catching up with the reading. That's a lovely picture of your parents Tom. They look quite a bit taller than Curley. As I remember him he would have been about 5ft 7.
ReplyDeleteYes, Moll - me Da was 6' 6" and me Ma was 5' 10" (until they got old...)
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