Hi there both of you.....I woke early this morning and for some reason my mind was very active so no returning to the land of dreams. One thought stood out more than any other and that was the date...4th August. It is one hundred years today since the beginning of World War 1. These are the thoughts that were running through my mind as I thought of you this morning.
You were both living in London and you Mum were 17 and Dad you were 28. I was wondering just how you both felt when you heard the news. I know that you Mum were living at home with your mother and you sister was married with a little boy and her husband went to fight in that terrible war and fortunately came home to tell of it all.
You at that time Dad worked as Chief Clerk at the Sugar Commission and you had a wife and a little boy. Tragically not long afterwards your wife died and left you a widower. I believe you did try to enlist in various services but were turned down on medical grounds. Was it your hearing perhaps as I do know you always had ear problems. I also understand though that you were classified as having a reserved occupation which would restrict you from joining up anyway. It must have been very frustrating for you and I can only hope you were never criticized for not being in uniform.
I know Mum you had an important position also at the Sugar Commission as Secretary to one of the bosses and that of course is how you met DAD, and before the war ended the two of you were married. It being wartime no photographs were taken and you were lucky to even have a wedding cake but you did manage a short honeymoon away which must have been wonderful for you.
I also remember you telling me that London was bombed (not nearly as badly as in World War 2 of course) but it still must have been terribly scary for everyone. I do so wish I had asked more when I was young but we don't think to do so and are left wondering about so many things. I recollect Mum you telling me you would still go out into the streets and keep under cover of the awnings of the shops but would hear the shrapnel bouncing off the roofs during the air raids. I can't even begin to imagine what that must have been like.
All I can say is I am so glad the two of you did get together, managed to stay safe and decided to emigrate to Western Australia and eventually found me in 1932.
You are both still in my thoughts nearly every day.....two very wonderful and loving people.
xxxxx
Beautifully written Mimsie.
ReplyDeleteThank you Delores.
DeleteDelores is right Mimsie - this is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have rather a lot of questions I wish I had asked my parents too. Whether they would have answered them is another question, but I didn't ask which was a huge mistake.
Thank you too EC. Were we perhaps restricted in what we felt we could ask? I think the young today are much less inhibited but I'm not sure if, when young, we are as interested as when we are older when it is often too late to ask.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteFond memories of times that were so different... it is true we didn't ask, but neither were questions of this sort encouraged (in most cases anyway); whether to protect the innocent or to sublimate 'issues', who knows? YAM xx
Hi Yam....I think you could be right when you say at times questions were not encouraged 'to protect the innocent' and many events I've discovered doing family genealogy proves this point, although none of them criminal thank goodness. Way back then there were things best left unsaid. xx
DeleteHi Mimsie, I decided to come here for a look-see and so glad I did. Such a lovely blog! I love your letters to your Mum and Dad.
ReplyDeleteHi Denise, I am so glad you paid a visit and enjoyed my letters. It's just at times I get the urge to really communicate with them again. They truly were wonderful people.
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