My RCAF father's best Christmas: 1945

Merry Christmas, everyone! Today on my blog I posted a story told to me by my father Douglas Florence about his best Christmas in 1945.
http://elinorflorence.com/blog/118166

 

its a great post. The way you illustrate his thoughts is very beautiful. especially the church bell part.

 

Very well written indeed. I like the part with the Americans !

 

Nice story.

A couple of oranges for a bottle of gin - pretty good bargain and free education to come.

Here is a bit of sour lemons.

In common with all the under nourished kids of Manchester my father started work at 14years. Conscripted into the Army at 21years old in June 1939 he was finally discharged at the end of 1946 (in Palestine). During these years when he had the opportunity he tried to educate himself.

But British Public Libraries amazingly would not lend books to Soldiers - he offered to give them a deposit and get a letter from his Commanding Officer who would have stopped his pay and sent the money to compensate for any loss or theft of books - no deal, no books.

They took over a barracks used by the US Army and there were these fantastic Books on Maths and Science - he stole the lot.

Signed on again with the Army after 6 months in a dye works (terrible conditions) and I still remember him taking Correspondence Courses in his spare time. Became a Technical College teacher in English after a total of 29 years in the Army.

 

Wonderful story, Elinor. I don't know how I missed it before now.