I have no idea who took this shot of my dad, around 1985 but I have set it in a frame.
If you look carefully you can see, bottom left, a Cairn terrier just sitting in this country scene, not Jinks but Brinnie, my mother's dog, who came to live with us after her death. I have to say she was not such a spirited little dog as Jinks!
I found a snippet for this day January 5th in 1945 in my dad's diaries about the late arrival of the Christmas parcels for the PoWs in the workcamp in Cossebaude, Germany:
"On Fri 5-1-45 our Xmas parcels arrived, much to our relief. These were issued out immediately on arrival with 41 cigarettes each. Each parcel contained the following articles:
Although a little late, the parcels were exceedingly welcome and gave a real Xmas fare, especially the pudding. We saved one of our cakes for my 26th birthday on the 12th January, (my third spent as P.O.W.) which made it a special day."
Good to put a gentleman to all your stories Hazel. As everyone has commented - a handsome man and what memories he had. Have you ever thought what will become of his diaries in the future?
@Cherrill
Cherrill, the originals have been lodged with the Second World War Experience Centre in Leeds for a few years now. http://war-experience.org/ The director was over the moon when he received them. I have my word-processed version on the computer, from where I draw these little extracts.
Thank you for your reply Hazel. I was interested as some of my father's belongings including some school books are with the Imperial War Museum in London, as part of an evacuees display. When you don't have children you have to think carefully about these treasured possessions.
Oh yes, forgot to say that my dad's diaries are also on microfiche in IWM, plus he did an interview for them when he was 61 which is on tape. I have a copy and have made a transcript. (Children are not always interested! A question of age I think.) Do you have copies of your dad's books?
So nice to put a face to the war diaries Hazel its a lovely photograph your dad looks very dapper, it will bring back many happy memories for you I expect, thanks for the interesting diary extract)
I see a little of your father in you! He was a very handsome man and I love the terrier behind him- makes you really look at the picture! Great shot and the diary entries are always so powerful when you post them.
So good to see this wonderful man who has given us so much info regarding the war years & how everyday life panned out in a prisoner if war camp. A good head of hair he has too! Interesting list of supplies & what a strange number of cigarettes! Your dads diary is a mine of wonderful historic information.
Your stories of your father are so very moving! Reading about his longed-for Christmas parcel and its contents makes much else in life trivial in significance. What a handsome man he was, and how good of him to save his stories. He would have had no idea how far they'd have been read!
@quietpurplehaze Have you considered writing a prolog to enclose with the diary about how you "shared it with the world of photographers" (and others) so it might continue down through time? I could easily see you leaving this to a museum someday if you are the last family member in your line...
Thanks for your suggestions!
The originals have been lodged with the Second World War Experience Centre in Leeds for a few years now. http://war-experience.org/
The director was over the moon when he received them.
I have my word-processed version on the computer, from where I draw these little extracts. It has a prologue (but no mention of photographers yet!), a biography, illustrations in the text plus extra photos.
I've had it printed locally and a few folk have had copies to read.
My dad's diaries are also on microfiche in IWM, plus he did an interview for them when he was 61 which is on tape.
It would be great to see them as a 'proper' book but no luck so far.
I think they certainly were, although he does not mention Red Cross.
Cherrill, the originals have been lodged with the Second World War Experience Centre in Leeds for a few years now. http://war-experience.org/ The director was over the moon when he received them. I have my word-processed version on the computer, from where I draw these little extracts.
Oh yes, forgot to say that my dad's diaries are also on microfiche in IWM, plus he did an interview for them when he was 61 which is on tape. I have a copy and have made a transcript. (Children are not always interested! A question of age I think.) Do you have copies of your dad's books?
I think I know what you mean - kind of understated, no complaining.
Yes, agree, hadn't thought of it - how many to a packet I wonder?!
Yes, he kept his hair - strange how some men do and others don't. Thanks for your comments,Pat.
Thank you! And yes, it's only me in the family now to know how many people have read & enjoyed extracts from his diaries.
Thanks for your suggestions!
The originals have been lodged with the Second World War Experience Centre in Leeds for a few years now. http://war-experience.org/
The director was over the moon when he received them.
I have my word-processed version on the computer, from where I draw these little extracts. It has a prologue (but no mention of photographers yet!), a biography, illustrations in the text plus extra photos.
I've had it printed locally and a few folk have had copies to read.
My dad's diaries are also on microfiche in IWM, plus he did an interview for them when he was 61 which is on tape.
It would be great to see them as a 'proper' book but no luck so far.
IWM = Imperial War Museum