Christmas past...... by quietpurplehaze

Christmas past......

"Christmas Day, 1941, saw us at a place known as Point 20Y. This was near Halfaya Pass and was an old fort where the enemy was holding out.

The weather at that time was extremely cold. Our Christmas Day rations consisted of bully and biscuits, as usual.

We were promised a Christmas Dinner by our officers who told us they expected it to arrive some time later on. We were denied this however and where the feed went nobody seemed to know. In spite of this, we managed to enjoy ourselves to a certain extent.

During the evening, we played cards and tried to imagine it was Christmas."



'Till We Meet Again: Gunner Bert Martin: 1941 to 1945'
Bert Martin & Hazel Spencer: Amazon



https://www.flickr.com/photos/150442566@N07/49263195186
nice
December 23rd, 2019  
Great image of this memory of your dad Hazel.
December 23rd, 2019  
Great shot and beautifully illustrated by the extract from your dad's diaries.
December 23rd, 2019  
Bep
Great memories, Hazel.
December 23rd, 2019  
So happy d to believe what those guys went through. They must’ve felt so homesick.
December 23rd, 2019  
Very cool
December 23rd, 2019  
A poignant, caring and loving interpretation of your Dad's words Haze.
Merry Christmas to you and Ray x
December 23rd, 2019  
How homesick they must have all been Hazel....brave men making the most of what they had!
December 23rd, 2019  
@phil_howcroft

Phil, thank you - I think the further I get from publishing my dad's diaries, the more I can appreciate what they all had to go through - and I can see the subtle effect it had on him all his life. Happy Christmas to you and yours.
December 23rd, 2019  
@happypat

Yes, it's kind of poignant to just look at one little extract like this. And to remember my dad was only 22. The diary is still being read: I met a lady member at the pool today. I knew she had bought the diary for her mum and she told me her mum had lent it to a friend to read first, and after her mum has read it, it will be her turn!
December 23rd, 2019  
Lovely image and heart warming book Hazel, a great read thats done the rounds in my family:)
December 23rd, 2019  
Lovely image & meaningful extract.
December 23rd, 2019  
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, Hazel. It puts things today in their proper perspective. Merry Christmas to you.
December 24th, 2019  
I'd almost say I'd like to "come up trumps" in the New Year but I wouldn't like to encourage the current US president!

Merry Christmas!
December 24th, 2019  
@will_wooderson

Me neither! Enjoy your Christmas!
December 24th, 2019  
@milaniet

Thank you - I find it kind of calming.............
December 24th, 2019  
@pcoulson

Very nice to know that your family have enjoyed reading my dad's story, Peter.
December 24th, 2019  
Many thanks for your visits, comments and favs. I was pleased to do this but think I will make it my last post on the book, putting it to bed so to speak!

@carole_sandford @samae @pdulis @dide @gijsje @jacqbb @jamibann
December 24th, 2019  
Great memories
December 25th, 2019  
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