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I'm not 100, or even close enough to that number
to be allowed at the lady's tea party... But I remember "The White Cliffs of Dover," and the wistful sound of it. We got our war news in the papers then, much cooler and more distant than the instant videos of CNN with their scenes from Syria, etc. But at our Saturday matinee double-feature, the "short subjects" were newsreels in black and white, arial dogfights among the old biplanes, guns firing, spiraling down with a trail of smoke. Shots of the limestone cliffs of Dover, the blitz in London. "It's a long way to Tipperary," and so many others were immediate, our friends were suffering, and we were glad our boys were over there, doing their bit for freedom, even though we missed them.
posted by
Pat_B
on February 28, 2012 at 1:46 PM
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I have been burned a few times because I have been overheard by the wrong person or people. This really hits home.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on February 28, 2012 at 9:25 AM
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I have seen the pictures of the devastation of the war in Europe, and seen it up close in Viet Nam but can't imagine the heart ache of those who had to live through it...So sad.
posted by
UtahJay
on February 28, 2012 at 8:14 AM
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Re:
Adnohr conkers are the nut of the horse chestnut tree not edible sweet chestnuts which we rarely see here only in large parks. As I told Naut the trees while many of them are affected with a virus which is sad as one still misses the elm trees which used to dominate the landscape. You could get a whack on the head if a conker was annihilated in a game of conkers. Once we had an old gramophone, I was quoting some of the records, it was a long time ago and I can only remember odds and ends. In those days one could understand what the person was singing, it was usually a little story not wow wow wow!
posted by
C_C_T
on February 27, 2012 at 11:36 PM
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Re:
Sam, well you have experienced the feelings of thousands who watched their husbands and children go to war.
posted by
C_C_T
on February 27, 2012 at 11:26 PM
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Re: CCT's Oldies
Bill that is the trouble with history it becomes romantic.
posted by
C_C_T
on February 27, 2012 at 11:24 PM
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Re: delightful, i love reading your war stories, I remember when they built the
Kabu things change sometimes as you say somethings simple things even ruins are more poignant
posted by
C_C_T
on February 27, 2012 at 11:23 PM
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Re: CCT
Wiley yes I bet that was a warming sight. A good job you were a bit younger
posted by
C_C_T
on February 27, 2012 at 11:20 PM
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Re: CCT
Naut we always play conkers at school, crafty tricks were drilling them and filling with concrete or baking in the oven. I did notice it had been banned in some schools due to health and safety. Poor old horse chestnut trees look pretty sad these days many have a virus.
posted by
C_C_T
on February 27, 2012 at 11:16 PM
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Re:
Annicita perhaps it was a sad time for her and your gran may not have revealed her fears.
posted by
C_C_T
on February 27, 2012 at 11:13 PM
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Re:
Justi Thank you, although I was only a boy I was so glad when the USA joined with us, before that it all seemed that the end was going to be inevitable.
posted by
C_C_T
on February 27, 2012 at 11:10 PM
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I do love your stories and this one is so special. Yes I remember the war, vividly in fact. It was a real life changer for my family even if my father didn't go to war. I have written a lot about being a kid during the war. We never had it like you guys did. My family prayed for those in England and France daily. Sometimes I wonder why France? You are such a gift to Blogit.
posted by
Justi
on February 27, 2012 at 9:02 PM
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my grandfather was in the navy....my mom never talks about it and she was very young
posted by
Annicita
on February 27, 2012 at 8:43 PM
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CCT
Fun post! And I too had to look up conkers! I was amazed to find out they even have championships...
posted by
Nautikos
on February 27, 2012 at 8:16 PM
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CCT
Wonderful post old chap and my only memories of the war was 3 of my brothers going off to Europe and India and seeing hundreds of Harvard's flying over the house from where they were built at Canadair in those days.
posted by
WileyJohn
on February 27, 2012 at 6:09 PM
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delightful, i love reading your war stories, I remember when they built the
the new Cathedral in Coventry and how contraversial the modern aspect was. Also I remember all the craters around St. Pauls in the sixties and now commerce comes right up to the doors. I would have liked to see a Memorial Park but what do I know.
posted by
Kabu
on February 27, 2012 at 3:03 PM
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CCT's Oldies
/
War’s a sad oldie sir. Better memories with the children. BC-A, Bill’s R®st
posted by
BC-A
on February 27, 2012 at 10:33 AM
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I was wondering what conkers meant and Adnohr cleared that up for me! War is hell and I can't imagine how frightening it had to be as a kid! I know a little about it but it has never been on my soil and for that I am very pleased and relieved! sam 
posted by
sam444
on February 27, 2012 at 10:06 AM
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I goggled 'conker' - wild chestnuts? Here we use it to refer to a smack on the noggin, or a whack on the head, if you like. Love reading about your memories - you were quite young, but the war must have terrible for our parents' and grandparents' generations. Is that one of your own poems, or a rhyme from the era?
posted by
adnohr
on February 27, 2012 at 8:36 AM
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