Autobiography of William James Hunt - part two
CHAPTER 5
Well we had returned to our little village in Crynant, South Wales where I was born. We now had settled in at Edith's mother's home. I wasn't working as I was now waiting for my calling up papers for the Fleet Air-Arm to arrive. We enjoyed the rest of August together, the weather was grand. And we could go around our little village to talk to all our friends and let them know why we had to come home to Wales. We did not have a car so we had to go to our town [Neath] by bus. Edith bought a few things that she thought she might need in preparation for the baby we were expecting in September. We went over to see my Mam and Dad a few times as they were still living in the house where I was born, so that passed a few hours on for us.
It was getting very close to Edith expecting our baby so we stayed around Edith's home with her mother. I remember well the morning we had to call our nurse in to be with Edith. It was Friday the 11th of September and I was going up to the hall to collect my "Dole" money (unemployment insurance money) I was back in double quick time, and just as I got home the baby was born. The midwife was helping and she was very firm that I could not go into the bedroom. She only let Edith's mother in with her. I was very disappointed with being kept out of the bedroom.
Edith had a very light labour, only two hours! However, the birth was more than she bargained for. Unfortunately, the doctor had to be sent for as the baby was born with his arm over his head, and Edith needed stitches. All this time, I had to stay out if the bedroom. I was finally allowed in to see Edith after the midwife left. The baby was nestled in her arms looking so sweet and nice and clean, wrapped in its blanket. Edith said she was fine and so was the baby. Everything was going fine and my Mam came over after tea (supper in Canada.) and stayed for a few hours.
It wasn't until the next day that Edith's Mom asked me if I would like to hold the baby. I was a little frightened about dropping the baby, however, she re-assured me how to hold the baby. I took the baby in my arms, and then Edith's Mom told me it was a boy. I hadn't even worried my head about that part. We named him Keith Malcolm Hunt. He weighed 6 3/4 pounds. At that time, a normal weight for one just born. He was a very pretty baby boy. I was so pleased I was at home when he was born. WE thanked the Lord God for giving us a wonderful baby boy!
Edith had the usual hard recovery after she had those stitches especially without the help of the "donut" pillow or "sit bath" (In our time we did not have those things). We just stayed around the house with our baby till I got my calling up papers to the Flight Air Arm service. I was ups to think that I now had to leave the joy of our life, at this time not knowing when I would see them both again. I said my prayers and asked our good Lord above to take good care of them both while I would be away. And thanked Jesus Christ for the wonderful present he gave to Edith and I.
I WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS POEM TO
ALL OUR MOTHERS, (GOD GAVE ME ONE OF THE VERY BEST)
Thank You God
For pretending not to notice that one of Your angels is missing, and for guiding her to me. You must have known how much I would need her, so you turned your head for a minute and allowed her to slip away to me. Sometimes I wonder what special name you had for her, I called her "Mother." To think of not having her with me is unbearable. You must have known how much I would need her.
I don't know what I would do without her all these years. She has loved me without reservation - whether I deserved to be loved or not. Willingly and happily, she has fed me, clothed me, taught me, encouraged me, inspired me, and with her special brand of love and gentleness, reprimanded me.
A bit of heave'n's own blue, her eyes reflect hope and love for you and the family. She has tried to in-still that love in us. She's not the least bit afraid of work. With her constant scrubbing, polishing, and fixing, she has made our house we've lived in, a beautiful home.
When I'm confused, she sets me straight. She knows what matters and what doesn't, what to hold on to and what to let go. You have given her an endless supply of love. She gives it away freely yet never seems to run low. Even before I am aware I have a need, she is making plans and working to supply it.
You give her great patience. She is the best listener I have met. With understanding and determination she always seems to turn a calamity into some kind of success. She urges me to carry my own load in life but is always close by, if I stumble under the burden.
She hurts when I hurt. She cries when I cry. And she will not be happy until she has seen a smile on my face once more. Though she has taught me to pray, she has never ceased to invoke your richest blessings upon me.
Thank the other angels for filling in for her while she was away. I know it hasn't been easy. Her shoes would be hard to fill. She has to be one of your greatest miracles God, and I want to thank you for lending my mother to me, all my life.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
Now the time has come when they need me in the service to help my country in this war. I said all of my goodbyes. My friends who were still working in the mines knew why I had chosen to go into the service instead of back into the mines. Edith stayed in Crynant with her mother while I took off to the R.A.F. training camp in Markham, near Blackpool. We had to train at the R.A.F. station
because the F.A.A. (Fleet Air Arm) did not have the training camp of their own. I had finished all my interviews, then it was the R.A.F. camp to complete my final training. I had three months "square-bashing" to do (that's what it was called). It was basic training. When I finished the "square bashing" I moved to the R.A.F. training camp, the training started on the 1st of March 1943.
Remember that date, because it comes into my life a few times. I was on the Royal Air Force camp training on the special course of ground maintenance. I had been on the course for three months; during this time I fell ill with a very bad case of tonsillitis. I was in the hospital for three weeks. This was the worse sore throat I'd ever had. The doctor came to my bed one day and said, we were considering taking your tonsils out but we decided to leave well alone. When I finally got out of the hospital, the woman doctor gave me three weeks sickness leave. I couldn't believe I was going home to see my family and I thanked the Lord once again for giving me this wonderful opportunity.
When I received my pass I headed straight for home to Crynant, where Edith and my little son were. How pleased I was to see them again. I thank our good Lord God again for guiding me to see my child and my wife once more. I really had a wonderful time, thank you God. This was the best three weeks of my life and the weather could not have been better, we went up to visit Edith's sister Nancy as she had a farm and I could help her husband. The three weeks was now over and it was once again time to return to camp. I said my goodbyes and was on my way, that part was so sad leaving my family, but sure appreciated having those three weeks. I did enjoy having that extra break as I never thought I would see them so soon, I sure thanked the Lord above for those three weeks.
As you read through my life story you will see how our God in heaven guided me to better things. I always fell ill, and ended up in a better position, or maybe even just got to go home to see my family. There are a lot more times in my life that God has come to lead me where the he wanted me to be. If you believe in Him, He will watch over you. God as a purpose for everyone, one day you will realize it.
"I can do all things through. Christ who strengthens me!"
After I returned to camp I had to join a new class, in ground maintenance. Again, this was a blessing for me, as I will tell you later on. I should have passed out of my training class in May of 1943. I was three months late passing out, however, as I was in the hospital. So it wasn't until the end of August that I finally made it.
My next move was to a place called Ford, in Sussex. I was transferred there to get some experience doing the real thing. I was there about four months. While there I had been told that they were expecting to go overseas. I thought I would go with them. I was only a little way out from London so Edith and Keith came to stay with my sister Win. I had every weekend home. That again was a wonderful time for me, once again Jesus Christ give me a second chance for me to be with my family before we went overseas. That eventually came to an end and Edith and Keith stayed on for a few more weeks.
I was stationed in Ford, Sussex, for four months waiting for our call to go to Scotland as we had been told that we were waiting to go overseas. Then after a few weeks I was called in to see the Commanding officer. I wondered what he wanted with me; well I soon found out that I was to be sent abroad on my own. I was told I would be leaving them to go to another camp in Arbroath to wait for my orders to leave for overseas. I was in that camp for over two months doing nothing only just what we wanted to do. It was December the 19th when I left Arbroath for Liverpool. I had had my inoculations only the day before I left for Liverpool, on my own. Once again it was not long before God came into my life bringing others to help me when I needed help.
After receiving all the necessary injections - Oooh! Was my arms sore it was so swollen and red too, I Thank God, He gave me a iend, I was taken to vthe station to get my train to Liverpool and I had to drag my kitbag along the platform when a Army personal saw me, he came to help me when he noticed I could not use my arm (He guessed I had been given injections), after talking to me he said he would take care of me as he was also going to Liverpool on his own, once again God was there for me when He knew I needed help, when my arms were so sore; again he brought that very nice service man to help me.
I knew I was being sent on my own to Liverpool to be shipped out on a Troop Ship. I got to Liverpool for the 21st December. My new friend went with me, and as we left the train he was still carrying my kit bag for me. I thanked him before we parted and then I had to be trucked to a camp overnight. At this point we parted, as he was in the Army. I wished him all the best and hoped he would be home safely. I asked God to keep him safe when I said my prayers at night. He was a very nice boy; I did not ask him to help me, he saw me dragging my kit bag and came to give me help.
Then I was brought back the next day to the Liverpool docks in the morning, to get on board the Troop Ship. I thanked the Lord for sending this man "out of nowhere" - what a true Christian to accompany me, and help me in my time of need. My arms were still sore the next day but not as bad as the first day. The next morning I was told to get ready as I was being taken back to the docks, to join a group of eleven others F.A.A boys and one officers.
There were 250 army troops on board and only 12 of us from the Fleet Air Arm on board, with our officers. We were split into two groups of six, on board. We were not with the troops, we had our own quarters next to the Merchant Navy man [who was in charge of us six (F.A.A.)], we were on night duty, and one of our jobs was to break eggs and other things ready for breakfast the next morning for all the troops on board. We worked with a guy who was in the Merchant Navy. He was our "boss," and we also shared general quarters, which was very good because I didn't fancy sharing quarters with the whole company. The "boss" was from Liverpool, and his ship went back and forth to Liverpool all the time.
One afternoon I was on my bunk writing a page or two to Edith. I was the only one there, as the other five went out for a walk around the deck. My boss happened to come in, and said, "What are you doing Taffy?" I told him I was writing a few pages every day to my wife. He said, "Where are you going to post them?" I said, "Wherever I land in camp I suppose." He then said that he would post my letters for me when he got back to Liverpool, if I would do him a favour. "What can I do for you," I said, laughing slightly. He warned me that all our mail from a camp would be censored. I understood that. "I would like you to bring some food items, each night, around to my Cabin." He would tell me every night just what he wanted, and I would take it out for him. He was supposed to check us when we left, so I had no worries over that. I told my boss, "Sure, I will do that for you," Then he said, "I'll tell you where we are going. Now, mind you, don't tell anyone else!"
"Oh, I promise I won't," I said.
"Well then," he said, "we are going to Australia. When you write to your wife, you can tell her you are going to Australia, as these letters will be posted in Liverpool. They will not be censored!" Although this seemed a strange thing for me to agree on, it was a strange thing for me to do, as it would have been months and months before Edith would have known where I was, (if ever), if this opportunity had not come my way. Thanks to the Lord it did! Edith would never have known where I would be. Now, just think once again how our good Lord God was looking after me! It maybe unbelievable but I can assure you it is absolutely true.
After a while, I had six letters ready, and I told him how many letters I had written. So he said to me, "Keep on writing, and number each one, and then you will know that Edith has gotten all of them." I was a bit dubious about whether he would keep his promise. I even offered to pay for the stamps, but he would not hear of it. He was an angel sent to me from heaven. "Thank you God" I kept that to myself, I did not even tell those very nice people I met up with in Australia. I did not tell any of my friends as I had promised my boss that I would not, and I never did tell any one.
On the arrival of the Troop Ship into Sydney Harbour, my "boss" suggested that we all (six of us) go up on the deck to see the spectacular lights of Sydney harbour at 3:00 a.m. It was a sight to see. We arrived in Australia on the Saturday morning 27th January 1945. After the other fellows had their "fill of it," and had gone down below, my friend gave me his final instructions about my letters.
"In your last letter, the 12th one, explain to your wife that she cannot say that she received your 12 letters. Instead, tell her to say she has had her Birthday last week and she received 12 presents." That was how Edith told me when she received my letters a month later, and she sent straight back to tell me. Believe me, I was so very pleased to know he had kept his promise. Once again I wish I had his Liverpool address to thank him what he did.
I was able to tell her in each letter were we were at the time, because of my newfound friend, my "boss." Her letters were also censored. He kept his promise all right because Edith did receive all of them. I said our Good Lord was looking out for me, and I really believe that. My only regret was I never thought at the time to ask my boss for his Liverpool address. When I got home at the end of the war I did try to find him with no success. This was the third time in my life during the war that I regret not asking these very good friends for their address, I guess one never thinks about it.
It took us almost six weeks to get to Australia. I will never forget the night we sailed in. We had to wait outside the dock until they were ready for us. My "boss" took us up on deck to view the sights. It was dark, but the dock was all lit up with coloured lights. It was really a lovely sight. I was so excited to think that I was in Australia. I just could not believe that I was there, I told my Boss, "It's just like a dream to me."
He said, you'll never regret this the rest of your life."
How right my boss has been. You will know by now what a wonderful life I have so far received with the guidance of Jesus Christ in my life, and read on as there is a lot more good times, to read about; good or bad I always came out on top. Believe me it is all absolutely the truth.
Show me; the way, not to fortune and fame,
Not how to win laurels, or praise for my name;
But show me the way to spread "The great story"
That "Thine is the Kingdom and power and Glory"
Helen Steiner Rice
Soon it was time to say goodbye to my "boss." I told him how pleased I was to have met up with him. The last thing he said was, "I'll post your letters as soon as I get to Liverpool," (and he did). I did again offer to pay the postage once more, but he still would not hear of it. Later, after I got home, Edith told me the Postman called her and said to her, "Mrs. Hunt, I've got a LIBRARY out here for you." You can imagine her surprise. I could not tell her until she received all the twelve letters I had written to her, it was never mentioned again while I was still in Australia.
You will see how our good Lord God was still guiding me; it was still in evidence throughout my stay in Australia. It was the 22nd of December 1944 when we left Liverpool, and it was 3 a.m. the 27th of January 1945 when we arrived in Sydney, Australia. It was Monday the 29th when we were taken to the camp, the "Golden Hind" in Sydney. There were twelve of us, and one officer, and the rest were other troops who were quickly dispatched to their duties.
We were the first British Servicemen to come to Sydney, and when we went ashore for the first ten days we were in Sydney (we did not have any duties so was able to go ashore every day) people were always stopping us and giving us bananas, they knew we hadn't had any bananas in Britain all through the war years. I have loads of photographs from those days. We had invitations to parties the two weekends we were in the camp. The people living there really entertained us.
It still wasn't clear what we were going to be doing. Even the officer didn't know yet. He was finally sent for, on the 7th of February 1944, and when he returned, he told us where we were going. The next day, the 8th of February, we got on the train, which took us to Brisbane. We stopped overnight at a place called Newcastle, then continued to Brisbane. We went to a place called Rocklea N.A.S. The work we were to do there was similar to what I had done in Knighton, Radneshire, England. We had to convert the building from a Ford motor factory to a land maintenance service station and repair shop. This was now to be a repair shop for the aircraft that were fighting the Japanese. In all, it took us about nine months to get the building ready for the rest of the troops to come over. We finished in November, from then on, we had nothing to do but enjoy ourselves, until the Troops arrived in February 1945.
I was friendly with two other F.A.A. boys as we were working together all the time we were in the camp. Every now and then there would be a notice placed on the notice board with a message asking any one wanting to have a days outing and a Barbecue party "Please place their name below." We are always ready for a days outing, the outing was on a Saturday. We all at the camp plus the Officer had their name on the notice. We were taken for a nice boat ride up the river until we got way up where there was a nice camping place, where they had the barbecue. After we finished eating we had a nice singsong around the fire, there were two people playing music for us, I really enjoyed those two hours singsong. It was now time to head back down the river it was 11 p.m. when we got back to camp.
The next best thing that happened to us three boys was meeting up with a lady, her name was Mrs Firrell she spoke to us in town one day asking us what part of England where each one of us lived, after we told her, she then asked us if we would like to come to a birthday party in a few weeks time, we three said we would love too. She then invited us to visit their home. It was over the other side of the Brisbane Harbour Bridge, a place called Sibleys Road Lindum.
"Have you got time to come home with me now?"
We said yes we have, She showed us how to get transport. Mrs Firrell did not have a car. We soon found out that they were a family originally lived in England. The road where all the family lived now in Australia, the road was named after their Father; they were a family of three brothers and three sisters, Mrs Firrell was the one of the sister, what a wonderful person God brought into my life one more time, how can any one say that we were lucky, to me there is more to come and I thank the Lord God-Jesus Christ for bringing all those very nice people to us.
When we arrived at her home, we met the rest of her family, her husband and two of their daughters, the oldest daughter was working that day so we met up with her later. After we had dinner, Mrs Firrell showed us around their big garden all afternoon, we saw a little home the girl's had when they were small, she said if you can have a weekend with us anytime you can sleep there, and as time went on we did that. Just remember this was another time our Lord God brought us to meet this lady in our first shore leave. We had another surprise waiting for us.
After we had dinner with her she then took us to visit her Mom and Dad. I said we had a big surprise coming. Her Dad was 91 and her Mom was 90 (Mr and Mrs Sibley) they just lived a little way down the street and both of them were in very good health. The Dad was a retired Colonel in the English Army, when he finished with the Army the whole family immigrated to Australia. I have a lovely photo of them both that I took of them under the banana tree in their garden, they all lived in the one street that was named after the Colonel, it is called Sibleys Road. We had a lovely time with them and when the time came to leave we were almost in tears because one would think we were their family. I can say now I really loved that place and if edith and I ever decide to go to Australia, that is where I would have wanted to go to.
We practically lived with Mrs Firrell all the time we were waiting for the big crowed to come over, so each day we went over to visit Mr and Mrs Firrell and they loved having us. You would think we were her sons the way she looked after us, we could not have met any one as nice as Mrs Firrell. They had three daughter, the oldest was twenty and the middle one was seventeen and the youngest was fourteen. We went with the two youngest girls and their Mother swimming, and other places. It came now to the birthday party for one of the girls. Mr and Mrs Firrell had hired a big hall with music after we had finished eating, and again we had a lovely singsong the rest of the night, all the family was on the stage, they had us boys with them and we were holding hands. I had Mrs Firrell on one side of me and Birthday girl on my other side. When we finished singing Mrs Firrell asked me, have you been singing with a band, I said I had not.
"Do you know you have a very nice voice, I enjoyed listening to you singing all night." She was so excited about it and said "If you lived here I would have you in the school, don't you have some training schools in England?" I said I lived in a little village in Wales, there was very little going for us in my young days and with it being a very small village I guess we had no chance of ever being "discovered."
(My Dad had a very smooth melodic singing voice; my Mother was also a very fine singer and people used to comment how good she was - Keith Hunt)
Now you know how our good Lord God was guiding me to better things, just you think, how I eventually got to Australia. We are by no means finished; once again the Lord was there for me. I thank the Lord every night for His guidance, and appreciate how we had all those nice people He brought us to meet up with in Australia. It was just like one big holiday; we enjoyed every minute we could with the Firrell's.
We had a very nice time over the Christmas period, I will never forget how all the Sibleys family's were so good to us, and specially Mrs Firrell. We did not have money to buy any of them a present, they said when we told them, we don't expect you to give us anything we all understand and do not upset yourself about it, you just enjoy yourselves. What a wonderful time we had, and remember in December it is the middle of their summer.
We went out dancing with the girls and their friends, and when we were walking home and it was raining the girls just took their shoes off and walked in their bear feet, the sidewalks were very warm, and when the rain stopped the sidewalk soon dried up. Now we are into the New Year 1945. You will not believe the good time we had, thank you God for watching over me. We still had nothing to do on camp, we had to report every morning to our officer to get any orders. We were still waiting for the Maintenance crowd to come over, I thought I would stay with them and still visit Mrs Firrell and family. If I had not been married I would never have come home at the end of the war.
We were still on our own in the camp all through January and going out every night, then at weekend we were able to sleep Saturday and Sunday night with Mrs Firrell, as they had a big sleeping quarters in the back of their home. We were not on duty for those days but during the week we had to be there after breakfast in case our Officer had something for us to do. We were still enjoying ourselves with Mrs Firrell and family. Now we are in the month of February and still had nothing to do. We were still with our new family and with it still being summer we were taken out every day, some days we would visit the rest of the Sibley family and a few times we spent a few days with their Mom and Dad.
At the end of February we got the bad news from our officer that in two days to expect the two hundred and fifty to arrive at any time, so we had to stay around camp during the week, but still had our weekends going to the Firrell family. You know the old saying "All good things must come to an end" They sure did when F.A.A. (Fleet Air Arm) Maintenance crowd came over. That was the worse part of my stay. But we were still not wanted, so during the week we would break out of camp after morning parade.
We knew where to get out because when we first got a taxi to take us back and we told him what we had done, he knew all about this spot and he took us back to show us, and said if we ring him he will come to that spot where no one could see us every time. We did that for the next two months and we told Mrs Firrell and she even paid the taxi driver for picking us up and taking us back. Now came the very bad news, I got orders to go back to Sydney to join the "Formidable," an aircraft carrier. The whole twelve of us went on our own, I thought I would be left there because I had already been trained for ground Maintenance but they separated us all.
The next night we broke out to go and see Mrs Firrell, it sure was a very sad night, we three boys told her how we enjoyed having her all that time, we ended up crying like babies and so were the family. We went to visit each one of them and especially the Mom and Dad. It was now time to get back to camp, when the taxi came for us. It was so sad at this point in our life but we still had to thank every one for the time we had with our life in Australia.
I have now received my orders to go to the Golden Hind camp in Sydney, from there I was to join the Aircraft Carrier H.M.S. "Formidable." Our job was to help to load up this ship with enough supplies to last at least three months. Then the time came for the ship to sail to the WAR ZONE! It was the day when we had to join the rest of the fleet to fight the Japanese. Our job was to look after the "Barracuda" fighter planes on our carrier. These were wonderfully made planes as they could "fold" their wings straight up to be able to go "below" into the Hangers. When these planes were sent out to "do their duty," we had to stay below decks during the fighting.
On one occasion I was oil deck with the rest of my crew, when it was announce by the Captain that one of the ships in the area had an accident in their "Hanger." One of the Mechanics had ordered an Electrician to "Press a Button" in the Cockpit for him. The Electrician obeyed and sent "Tracer Bullets" throughout the Hanger. Of course it was then ablaze. About six aircraft were destroyed in the fire, and we were told that the Ship's crew had to be "on guard" to "Abandon Ship." Fortunately, the fire was under control in the allotted 10 minutes! Everything turned out all right for the Ship and her Crew. The Mechanic however, was put in the "brig" and eventually put "ashore" for punishment. This was on the News at the Movies and Edith saw it. It did worry her, as she had no idea if it was my ship that it had happened on. Luckily, of course, it wasn't my ship. She told me when i got home, she did not know what ship it happened on.
Another time, one of our planes (not "Scruffy" whom we 'serviced') came back damaged from a "hit" from the Jap planes. It was unable to let down its "landing bar" and therefore was unable to land on the ship. He was told to land on the water as close to the ship as possible and we would "pick him up." He landed in the water and ejected himself. The plane sunk and the pilot was swept away from our Aircraft Carrier. It was impossible for us to navigate to pick him up. Immediately, one of the little "Destroyers" that surrounded us turned straight around and chased after him. We could no longer see him as he had disappeared over the Horizon. It must have been at least 20 minutes later that we heard over the Loudspeaker that the pilot had been picked up. The air resounded with our joyous shouts and cheers. It was moments like these we remember and still cheer at the bravery of our comrades. We were so glad that our plane came back okay. We had a very nice pilot. When our fighter plane "Scruffy" went out on a mission to protect the "bomber" planes that were fighting the Japanese, We were not allowed on deck when we were in contact with the Japs; we would be waiting anxiously, until we were told that they were on their way back to the ship. Then we would go up on deck; there were five of us working on one plane. We were glad to see "our plane" come back safely, each time. The pilot we had was a nice guy; they called him' "Scruffy" because he was so untidy. He had that name on his plane, and he used to come around when we were servicing his plane, to thank us for keeping it up to "par." We were so proud of that plane. We were glad we didn't lose it or its pilot. Every time he returned safely, we gave him a big "Cheer!"
After two months in the fighting Zone, we were "down below" while our Seamen were on deck, fighting. A Japanese Suicide plane (Kamiah Karsie) crash-landed right on our ship's deck! It was a Miracle of God that he landed right in the middle of the ship's four steel plates that made up our flight deck. We were fortunate that it was a British Ship with steel decks, as the American Ships were made with wooden decks. The steel plates prevented the suicide plane from going below into the "Hangers." All we heard that day was a huge BANG! But we weren't sure what had happened. It shook the whole ship, I can tell you. Our hearts were in our mouths believe me. We didn't know if our ship would sink or swim. Our lives were even more at risk being "down below." The terror was more "real" as our imaginations were our only knowledge of the situation. Our relief that we were not sinking, when we finally learned what had happened, was inexpressible. At least we were still "afloat."
When we got the "all-clear" sign, and were allowed back on deck, what we saw made us sick. There were bits of debris from the plane and the pilot all over the place. Our two gunners and one officer that were killed were taken to the sick bay. We helped to wash everything over the side of the ship. Later we had the burial service for the two gunners and the officer. This was the first burial service I had seen at sea.
This time, the damage done to the carrier was so bad that we had to return back to Sydney for repairs. It took a month to get back to Sydney. While we were there waiting for the repairs to be finished, we got shore leave every other night until the repairs were finished; during the day we just had to sit around for at least another month and until the day the repairs would be finished then we would be going back up to the fighting zone, we were all sitting around on top looking over the side as it was a very warm day, then we got the news over the speaker from the Captain that the Japanese had surrendered. When I said my payers I thanked our Lord for keeping me save throughout my service.
………………..
THE WAR IS OVER!
CHAPTER 6
The Japanese had surrendered! I know it was Wednesday August 15th 1945. We were all glad to hear that news I can tell you. I remember the exact date that it happened. We were sat on the edge of our Aircraft carrier when our Captain announced the good news over the speaker, we all give a loud cheer. Boy, that made our day, believe me. We were all five only on deck that afternoon wishing each other the very best because we knew that the service was all over for us.
After that we got news that our Aircraft carrier was to sail to Japan to pick up our "prisoners of war" and bring them home. All the planes were taken off the carrier to make room for all the sprisoners, as many as our ship could carry. Next thing we were told was to pack all our gear up ready for the next day, as we were being sent to a camp to get prepared for the journey back home to England. It was November when we set sail for home on a Troop-Ship. It was December when we arrived at the demobilization depot, and it was January the 26th 1946 when I finally arrived home. The village of Crynant looked great, I suppose, but all I had eyes for, was Edith and our son, Keith. Remember, he was only two months old when I had left home. What a sight for "sore eyes' they were.
The war was now over, and I was back home with my family. Keith was three years and four months old. I had my "kit bag" with me and all he was interested in was to see inside it. He wanted to see if I had brought him any presents. The only thing I had in the bag was some candy. It was Saturday. We went out in the
afternoon to get him a toy. I was so glad to see Edith and "our Keith." What a joy, what a priceless moment in our lives. And I thanked our Lord God for keeping me save through the war. And for the wonderful life I had received all through the time I was in Australia. Thank you God - Jesus Christ for everything I have received in my life. Remember if you believe, really believe, in our heavenly Father and ask for guidance you will never regret it!
The next day was Sunday and all the shops were closed, a day of rest for all. God in his mercy gave us a "family" day, my first weekend home. God's goodness toward me and my family has been unbelievable! I was one of the "blessed" who came home from the war without injury! Only God's grace on my life can account for this. You may not believe how God had been in my life, and still guiding me to this day.
The following day I went to sign on at the Labour exchange. I needed to get some money while I was waiting to find some work. All we got from the service when we were de-mobbed was fifty pounds, to get us started with our new life. It seemed a lot of money in those days. They were in the process of putting new
houses up, at the top of our village. They were called "Prefabs." They were put up pretty quickly because they were made of prefabricated units. This was a new kind of building and I was offered a job putting them together. Naturally, I never turn the chance down, and I accepted that work, as I now wanted to give my family a good living. I started the very next day. First we had to dig a trench outside of foundation for electric cables extra. Again, I was chosen to be the leader of the gang of six men on the job, after my interview (This is where my training in the centre when I was taught to read the blue prints). That meant I got more money than the rest of the men. I really enjoyed that job too, and I worked at that until January 1947. At the same time, the boss asked me if I would like to do another little job as a "Watchman" on Saturday and Sunday, which meant I had extra money coming in. We only had two "Prefabs" left of the quota, when the boss called me in to talk to me. The news he had was, that the firm had decided not to put up any more "Prefabs" in my village, after we finish the last two. He wanted to know if I would go with him to his next consignment. I said I would have a word with my wife when I go home that night.
On Monday morning I went to the office and told him we did not want to move if the place was too far for me to travel each day. He said, that he would let me know, as soon as they told him. We had only one more to finish, when our good Lord came into my life once again, at the end of January. I fell ill and had to go into hospital because I had Peritonitis. I must have had a grumbling appendix for a very long time. I started with this when I was younger. I had stomach pains and each time I went to my doctor he kept saying it was just a chill on my stomach. I even had this, one time, when I was in the service, but they did nothing. This time it was worse than ever. I was staying with Edith's Mom, she became so worried about me that she went and got my Mam, to come over, and the doctor was called. My Mam told the doctor, "This is more than a chill on his stomach, get him in hospital straight away; as it should have been done years ago."
He went out to phone no one had phones in their homes in those days. I was in hospital inside half an hour. The doctor at hospital examined me; he asked me how long I had it, when I told him, he ordered me to be taken to the operating theatre straight away. They just got me operated on before it burst. It could have
been very nasty. Once again God was looking after me. After I got back into my ward and came around, the nurse looking after me said this, "Are you a lucky boy! We got you operated on in time, it was ready to burst." She told me if it had burst you would not be with us any more.
I recovered from that, but a few days later when I got out of bed, I started with some very bad pains in my leg. When the Sister (a head nurse) looked at my leg, she ordered me right back into bed, with my leg elevated. I had Phlebitis, which I was told it was inflammation of the vein in the leg from a blood clot! I was in hospital another six weeks with that, then I was taken up to the nursing home for recuperation. I was also told that I couldn't work outside any more. That meant that I was back at the labour exchange once again. And I was out of work for another six months. I did help out a bit at the farm that Edith's sister and her husband ran. It was summer time and the weather was very nice, so it was okay working outside, then. At the time we lived with Edith's Mum. My Mam lived just across the way, there wasn't much inside work to be had in our village.
We had a long talk about going to Australia. Anyone that had been in Australia during the war could go back there on a twelve pounds passage. You had to sign up for a two-year stay, or you would have to pay back the full fare to the Australian Government.
At first, it seemed the ideal solution, and we were all for it, we even got all the necessary papers filled in. Then we had a long talk about what we would do if anything happened to our Mothers. We would not have the money to come back to England for some time. I gave Edith a few weeks to think about it, I was very keen myself as I wanted to go back there. After two weeks Edith thought about that, then one night she said, "Would you mind Dad if I said I don't want to go." I told her, "If that is what you want I will stay here." We decided that we wouldn't go to Australia, so far away from our families. I would have loved to have my life in Australia. But I was happy to stay in the U.K. if Edith wanted it that way, I would not go against her wishes.
(Well I can say this time God decided on my Mother not wanting to go. I would not have wanted it either, though only 5 years old at the time. I look back and know it was God's intent I grow up in Britain, for various reasons as my life unfolded - KEITH HUNT)
Then once again God came into our life; through Edith's mother. She suggested we go to Halifax to look for work. There was a lot of inside work, as there were lots of mills and factories up in Yorkshire. It was decided that Edith would go to her Aunt, to see if she would take us in, till we had got jobs, and a place to live, that was ours. Edith was away for five days. Edith's Mum and I looked after "our Keith. When Edith came home, she gave us the good news. We could go and stay with her Aunt. It took us around five weeks to sort everything out. We had to get ourselves organized, get Keith out of school, and make our way to Halifax, Yorkshire.
Before I leave Wales, let me say I loved my little country village of Crynant, and I am so glad that my Dad made his home there. I have thought, many a time, how nice a place it was to grow up in. I have always appreciated the good life I had during those nineteen years in Wales. I guess I would never have left, if the 1939 War had not started. I have made all arrangements for Edith and I to come home to rest, when God takes us both to His garden.
( YES I know have the job of taking my Mother and Father's ashes mingled in a double urn, back to the grave site my Dad picked way back in 1997. Him and I were over in wales and England for 3 months. We picked the head-stone for the grave spot; we decided what words would be place on it, and it was done and erected in place. I only have to get the stone-smith to add the day-month-year of my Dad's passing, which was June 30, 2014. He lived to be a few months off 94. I will plan to go back and finish this task in 2015 - KEITH HUNT)
Things were a lot different after the war ended, most of the boys and some girls our age had left our village. I did stay for a while working on the building of the "Prefabs," until God came to my rescue, when my job there was ending. You may not believe me when I say that our Lord has guided me all my life, but when you read this story, and get to the ending, you will find out how many times, he always gave me a better life. God knows where He wanted me, at the time I fell ill in the service ending up in Australia. You have read what a life I had there.
We got to Halifax and settled in with Edith's Aunt in March 1948. I got a job at the firm that makes toffee, "Mackintosh." They were well known for the best toffee in Halifax. They had a lot more than just toffee. I started in March, in the gum wrapping department working nights, running a wrapping machine. Edith went back to the mill where she worked before we got married. So we were both working now, and things were better than saying in Wales as there wasn't a lot of work only the coal mines, although we loved living in our country village, in the end we made the right decision. I never regretted for one moment Edith making that decision not to go to Australia.
Keith was five and a half when we moved to Halifax. Aunty Edith got him in the school, near, where she lived. After a few weeks, Aunty Edith asked me if I would visit the teacher the next afternoon after I got up from my sleep. I did that, and I wondered what Keith had been up to. When I got to school, I had a big surprise. She asked me if I would do her a favour, we both had a good laugh when I heard the problem. When the class was learning to count to ten, Keith at that time counted in Welsh, Un, Dau, Tri, Pedwar, Pump, Chwech, Saich, Wyth, Naw, Deg. She said, "I didn't tell you before, as the entire school's teachers wanted to hear him count up in Welsh." I did do that, in Wales, when I was in the
infant school for it was all Welsh. I told the teacher and she said it's nice. We all wanted to listen before we mentioned it to you.
When I got him home, I explained to him that now he had to count in English. At the weekend, I went through it a few times, and then promised him, if the teacher was pleased with him on the Monday, I would take him in town and buy him a little car. When I next saw the teacher she told me how good he was at counting in English. Of course, he got his little car, eventually he forgot all the Welsh that he had in Wales; as I was brought up there I still have not forgot my Welsh teaching to this day.
(WELL Dad remembers some Welsh words, but does not speak fluent Welsh, as in his days in school it was not taught in any serious way, as it is today - KEITH HUNT)
We had now settled down to live in Halifax, and everything was going fine. We were doing well and making a good living. After a year of working hard Edith became ill. She had a bad case of Anaemic and was poorly for three months. I was doing very well at my job and after two years I was promoted up to a charge-hand. When Edith was ready to start work again, I got her a job with the firm I was with. Edith worked on days, and I was on nights and it worked out very good for us. We eventually found rooms in Savile Park next to the Clock tower, we were now just a little way out of the town centre.
That was a start of us leaving Aunty Edith and getting us away from the town centre, and now we could save for a home of our own that was our sole desire, We did not know at the time that the people who we were in rooms with did not own the house that came up for sale two years later, and ended up on us owning our own home, read on to find out what happened later. We really liked living there as it was close to the Moors (large open grass park) and where all the shows were in summer. Also it was nice grounds (Moor) to have a nice walk around in summer, and if you had a dog you were allowed to let it off the leash, and also they played soccer matches and other sport during the summer months.
When we got in the two rooms with the Warboys (the house we later bought) after leaving Aunty Edith, we could meet at the top of the main road in the morning as Edith was going to work, and I was on my way home. We could talk for about fifteen minutes before my bus came. When I got home I would get Keith up and ready for school, he was no problem to get him off to school, and I did not have to take him to his new school, the one he now went to was south of the town, we had a little side path all the way to his Trinity mixed school (just like I had when I was in the infant school). We always walked that way ourselves when we went into town. We did not have a car at that time in our life. That was when we lived in the rooms, when we left Aunty Edith.
We were in the rented rooms for two years, not knowing at the time as I mentioned earlier that the people who we found had rented the room to us were not the owners. It had been left in trust when the owner died. The man who now owned it wanted to sell it, so he found a place for the Warboys. After that when he found us in the house he tried to give us notice to leave, I had consulted a Lawyer regarding the notice I received from him. He told me to go and look at it first, and, "If you are not satisfied just say it's not suitable; you keep in touch with me and I will tell you the next move." I knew now that with it being unfurnished rooms he had to find us similar accommodation as we already had. He told me to refuse anything not suitable. The new Landlord tried all ways to get us out, he could not find us the equivalent place; he eventually threatened if we would not accept his last offer, he would have us evicted. I told him straight, you try it. I had already consulted a lawyer and I kept him up to date. I knew my position now.
One day later I received a letter from him asking me to come to his office, I went to see him and he made me an offer, if I would put the $2000 down for the mortgage I could purchase the house. I told him I did not have that kind of money (he did not know that I had already a lawyer working for me). I told him that the house needed a lot of repairs and when I finished telling him he said he did not know that, leave it with him and he would get back to me. I got in touch with my lawyer again to keep him in the picture.
The new Landlord phoned me up on the weekend and asked me again if I could come to see him one afternoon. I did go to see him with his lawyer as usual with him and he told me that as the place needed a lot of repairs he came up with this new offer, if we would do the repairs they would give us the money for the mortgage. I said I wanted to think about it and let him know as soon as possible as with me working nights I would have to wait until next week. I phoned my Lawyer to keep him in the picture about the new offer he had given me. He told me to go and see him. I made an appointment to see this lawyer, I told the lawyer that before I could agree to anything. I would have to have a word with my lawyer. He was surprised I had a lawyer working for me. Then I told him who he was, he then said to me. That he is a friend of mine. "Do you mind if I give him a ring" I said no I don't mined. His Lawyer rang and I heard the conversation between them. In the end I heard him say, okay I will tell him you want see him. I went straight up to his office and I told my lawyer about the new offer, if he would give us the two thousand pounds to put down for the mortgage should we do the repairs. After two years we had been there we liked living there. I told him that would be no problem. But I would have to consult my Lawyer first. My lawyer rang him up, they had a long conversation, and it ended up he got me $800 pounds more because he told him how much the repairs would cost, and it was all settled before I left the office. That was how we started owning our first home in Halifax.
Again just think I did ask for help when I had never used a lawyer in Halifax when all this started. I asked God in my prayers to help me to find a Lawyer I didn't know what to do, then two weeks later on a Friday afternoon I opened my paper and right in front of my eyes I saw this advert in big bold letters. "Need a good Lawyer then look no further." I rang the office number and made an appointment to visit the following Monday. Again our Lord God had aswered my prayers.
I worked hard doing that house up over the five years; it did cost me a lot of money. I also had to replace a lot of things that I could not do myself. After Five years we sold it and made ten thousand Pounds. We came out on top of that deal. The good lord was still guiding me to better things. I had done all the repairs and now we decided that we would like to find a place further out of town, the other side by our General Hospital, we liked that part when we were looking around and our Keith could stay in the same school.
(I well remember my Dad doing all those repairs and painting, and having other things added by experts in their particular trade. It was all a very fine house when completed, but it was a "row house" - not an individual house with a garden and yard - KEITH HUNT)
After looking around we met up with some friends and we told them where we would like to go, one of them said there is a nice semi-detached (duplex in Canada) coming up for sale where she lived, she knew the people and she would let us know when she had a word with the owner, she soon found out when it was being ready for sale, the lady told her she would give us the first chance before placing on market.
We were all happy with our life so read on for more good things to come. Our son, Keith, was enjoying his school; we also brought him up going to Sunday school. Now there were times in my life when I could not go because of my work. However, even in times when we could not go, we sent Keith, every Sunday. But we still believed in the written word (Bible) and the church. I have believed in God from an early age as my mother also believed in God.
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INDEED it was a wonderful blessing for me that my parents sent me to a Church of England school, at age 7. We were given a Bible on our first day. The first half hour of each school day was reading the Bible. We were told to open to Genesis one. We read the first chapter, and when I saw, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth....." it was like a light switch was turned on in my head. I had from being a toddler, a wonderment and amazement at all the creation I saw in Wales and now in England, all around me. I was enthralled with it all. I knew from that first day reading Genesis one that there was a God in heaven who made all the creation I could see around me. I was a believer in God from that day forward, and a reader of His word contained in the Bible. Of all the great things my parents gave and did for me in my entire life, sending me to a church school was the best of all - KEITH HUNT.
CHAPTER 7
After about three months our friend came to ask us to come to see the lady of that house she told us about, she was now ready to sell. We went to see her and she would keep it until we sold the one we lived in and within three month we had sold our home by the Clock tower and our church. We made 10,000 pounds on that home, and bought the "Semi" (Duplex) over by the General Hospital, the place was Skircoat Green. This was a very nice place, away from the built-up area, we had a very big back garden and that is what Edith and I loved, it was the first house on the right so that gave us a very big area. It was a corner lot. We remained there all the years Keith was growing up, and until he decided to immigrate at seventeen and a half years old to Canada. (Actually 18 years as I went to the immigration at 16 to equine and they told me because I had no relations in Canada i would have to wait until I was 18 - Keith Hunt). I loved living there and I had lots of garden area, and big privet hedges which gave me plenty of work which I loved doing and at the same time it was a very good exercise which I used to do in those days.
(I also helped Dad cut those hedges and what a huge job it was being a corner lot. now and again he would hire someone to do it, but 95 percent of the time it was Dad and I. My parents grew wonderful flowers in part of the garden we had, just some of the largest and best flowers I've ever seen. We would give them away to people we knew. those were the years be had a "budgie" bird, and did Dad and I teach it to talk….wow it could say all kinds of things, ever seen anyone with a budgie since that could talk like ours. My parents still had it when I left for Canada. It was a male and would fly around the whole house. It was always out of its cage when we were home at evenings and on week-ends - KEITH HUNT)
I have told you how both Edith and I were fast runners as youngsters. That was passed on to Keith I guess, as he throughout his school life only lost one race; That was a relay race, he was the last one and though the others had a few yards start on Keith he got within a foot of the winner. He never got beaten in the one 100 yard race in heats and finals, in all the inter-school sports competitions. I was watching him win a race one time, It was a 100 yard race, when a school teachers nearby (who did not know I was his Father) exclaimed, "Wow, look at that boy go, his feet hardly touch the ground." He enjoyed all the sport in the school and I watched him playing soccer with the school only just across the moor park, just across the road by our Church and Clock tower.
(KEITH HUNT….concerning my running. I was 6 years old and in the Holy Trinity church of England infant school [ages 5 and 6]. One day the teacher said, "Put on your running shoes, we're going to have a race, both boys and girls." I remember like it was yesterday, I was the last to leave the class room, with one girl, and said to her, "Now you'll see how it should be done." I really have no idea how I knew I could run fast, never raced before this day, but something told me I was fast. We lined up, both boys and girls together. The word "go" was given, and I flew off like a bullet. We were to run to the wall in the play-ground and turn around and run back. I was already on my way back and all the others were still running to the wall. I won by many yards. The teacher was so amazed, before I knew it I was asked to run against the boy in the next school up that I would go to [ages 7 to 11] next year. Not sure exactly if this boy was 2 or 3 years older than me, but he was the fastest runner in that school. He was way way taller than me, looked to me like a giant. The race was on the moor part Dad has told you about. We were off…..I tied with him. So the school knew what to expect when I moved up there the following year at age 7. From 7 to 11 I only ran in the 100 yards dash. As Dad said never lost. When I moved up to the next and last Holy Trinity Church of England school, at age 11, where I would complete my education, the teacher I had did something I thought was crazy at the time. He entered me in a cross country race. I remember saying to myself and to him, "Why on earth have you done this; I am a sprinter not a long distance runner!" I can remember this also like it was yesterday. It was ages 11 to 15. There was about 50 or 60 runners from various schools. I thought as we got ready to start, that this was just crazy for me to be in such a race. When the word "go" was given everyone was off like a shot, I was near the end, still thinking this was crazy for me to be in such a race. It was about a 3 or 4 mile cross country race. I remember about half way along I began to pass kids. Then near the end there was this extremely steep hill [knew about it from playing after school in that area] of about 100 yards. I began to pass many kids as I went up this hill. And I continued to pass more kids as we came on the flat to enter a school I had never been in before, for the finish. As I turned into the entrance of this school, there was this man who was telling the kids what position they were finishing in…..to my shock, he shouted out, "Your number 6." I was amazed….I finished in 6th place out of those 50 or 60 kids, many older than me, as I was only 11 years old. I could not believe it! Within a month or so my teacher entered me in a cross country race for ages 11 and 12. I won that race as easy as pie. Not sure if cross-country racing was that popular because my teacher never entered me in a cross-country race ever again. That was the only two cross-country races I ever did. I did do a few 1/2 mile races in our local school summer competitions, which I won.
Then this same teacher when I was 12 put me in not only the 100 yard dash inter-school competitions but the 220 yard race. Again I was dumfounded and expressed it to him, that I'd only ever done 100 yard races. Nevertheless I was entered. I was amazed…..I broke the record for my age group like smashing it to a 100 pieces. I was from then on out that I was only entered in the 220 yard races, never again in the 100 yard races. The only other races I did was the "relay races." For the rest of my school years I never lost a 220 yard race. Came very close to it in my last year of High School. Just before the race I overheard this lad saying, "I'm after beating Hunt." Maybe he really had done much practice, setting a goal to beat me in the 220 yard inter-school competition. I kinda figured I was in for the race of my life. And it indeed it was to so be. Coming down the straight to the finishing line, we were neck to neck so to speak. I just broke the tape maybe an inch or two before him. I thought, well lad, whoever you are, you indeed just about beat me, you have been the closest to ever come that close to me in my 220 yard racing since I was 12 years old.
Yes during High School I took up Football or Soccer. Practiced and practiced, often just by myself up against a wall, for learning ball control. I did become captain of our school team. I played in "half-back" position seeing as I was a good defender. But in our playful school soccer games I was often also a forward, had a good striking power and scored many a goal. My ball control was extremely good and if I had a shot on goal I never missed being on the net. I often used to wonder about the pro players I saw on TV, who often missed the goal net when they had a good opportunity to shoot.
I also enjoyed playing "Cricket" [look it up on the Internet if you do not know what Cricket is]. I was an "all-rounder" - good batsman and good bowler, as well as doing some pretty acrobatic catching of the Cricket ball at times. During the last year of High School I was captain of our school Cricket team.
I was indeed a fine athlete all of my school years. Took up riding horses at age 16 to prepare myself for my life goal that I had set for myself, out West. Never rode a horse until I was 16, but never thought for a second I would not be good at it. And indeed in the first two years in Western Canada I became a "trick-rider" which was great fun, and something I had dreamed about doing from age 7, watching Roy Rogers movies).
The first musical instrument Keith had was a "Ukulele-Banjo" - like a Banjo but a shorter neck and 4 strings. Keith had been going to the Saturday morning "movies" and had seen George Formby singing and playing his banjo in his movies. Keith was eight in September of 1950 and wanted a Ukulele-banjo for Christmas that year. He received it and it was his delight for about three years. He learned some cords and strumming from the George Formby book that came with it. Keith was about 11 years old when he bought his first guitar out of the pocket money we gave him. He had seen Bert Weedon on TV playing his electric guitar and from that moment he wanted to play like him one day. All through his teens he studied music and learned to play both the regular guitar and the Steel guitar that is used in Hawaii and Western music.
Keith was now in a "mixed" class at School. As a result, he tried very hard to stay ahead of two girls who were top-notch students. These girls became friends with him, as he was "top of the boys" in his class. The girls used to come over and do their homework together with Keith. Then they would go out and play together. Keith seemed kind of "fond" of one of the girls. Her name was Pauline. When we went on Holidays, the two girls seemed to be at the same place we had decided on. So we, of course, went over to their "Trailer Park" to see them. We had lots of time together with them, swimming, playing in the field around us, and just enjoying their company. This happened on a few holidays, during those years. I do believe Keith had a hand in that.
Before Pauline and her girl friend came into Keith's life, we would let him take his friend David with us on Holiday. David lived a little way below where we lived by the Clock tower, they always attended at the Church. Keith and David were having Elocution lessons from Mrs. Story, and also were her best two boys in the concert she produced each year at the Church Hall, their performance on the stage was really very good. Edith and I never missed one all the time he was with us. Mrs. Story was very upset when Keith told her he was leaving to go to Canada. He broke his mother's heart, she was never the same after he eventually left home. We were hoping he would grow out of his wanting to be a cowboy as he had this lovely girl in his class Pauline.
Pauline and Keith seemed to remind Edith and I of us at their age. One time on holiday when we had taken the girls with us for a day out, on our way home, we saw them "kissing" in the back seat of our car, through the rear-view mirror. We truly expected Keith and Pauline to stay together. However, they "lost touch" when Pauline passed to go to the high school but her friend Maggie and Keith went to the technical school. He didn't seem to know how much Pauline liked him, as much as he liked her. He didn't know, that "A man chases a girl, until showing her love for him." Later, after Keith had been in Canada many years we went to the "Marks & Spencer" store in Halifax. While there, a girl approached me and asked me if I was Keith's Dad. "Yes" I said. "Don't you remember me?" she asked. "No" I said. "Well," she replied, "I am Pauline." I called Edith over to where I was, and told her, "This is Pauline!" We all talked for a while, and then Pauline admitted, "I did love your Keith, you know. When I found out that he had left for Canada, it really grieved me, for I loved him so." Then I said to her, "We were hoping that he would have stayed and kept with you just as Edith and I had met up in school and stayed together." "Yes, I know," she said, "Keith told me, and you're still together, aren't you?"
I went on to say, "You know, Pauline, we really liked you." I then asked her if she was married, she told us, she had an 18-month old child, and she was expecting her second child soon. We left after Edith had picked what she had wanted. We never thought to ask her where she lived. We did try to get in touch with her the next time we called in at "Marks and Spencer." We did try to see her before we retired to live in Canada. We would have enjoyed seeing her again. We went into Marks shopping, we always looked to see if she had returned back to work, she never did while we lived there.
A few years later when I retired we decided to go to Canada for twelve months to see if we would like to retire in Canada. We called again to see if Pauline had returned to work there. When we returned after our holiday in Canada we called in "Marks & Spencer" to shop; we hoped to see Pauline back there again. However, the Manageress told us that Pauline had not returned to work after she had her second child. Once again we never thought of asking her where she lived, we would have loved to see her and her family again. We did ask the Manageress if she still had her address but she inform us that she was not allowed to give anyone her address or phone number. So unfortunately we have lost touch with her.
After Keith finished his schooling at nearly 17 years of age, He went up to the Technical College, for a year at night. While there, he learned Carpentry. I still have the little Stool that Keith made, with the wicker braiding on it. I use it all the time when I do my musical tapes. He was looking for work, and then he had a few choices. He could go into the "Weights and Measures" Company because of his higher education, or he could learn the trade of a "Shoemaker." Keith decided to learn the Trade of a "Shoemaker." So he apprenticed at "Braely's." It was very close to where I worked in Halifax, just across the Canal. I was hoping he would have chosen to go to train with the, "Weights and Measures" Company as it would have been a very good job. That would have been a good paid job as well if he had stayed in Halifax. I must say that the shoe training did come into his life in Canada.
Keith was now working and saving to immigrate to Canada. This had been his goal, as he loved the work of Cowboys. We thought he would soon forget it, as he got older. But we found to our dismay, that it was still "his dream." that broke his Mother's heart. Her only son, going so far away! He did have his wish and he went out to Canada. This is how he got to Canada, when I came home from work one night his mother give me the news that without saying a word to either of us he had been to Canadian immigration office in Leeds, and as he was under 21 he had to bring the papers home for us to sign. His mother said to me, "Don't sign Dad then he will not be able to go." I replied, "When I was taking papers on my round at twelve years old in Crynant, I never forgot what happen to three older boys, there was an accident at the top end of our village, they had been drinking at the last pub and when walking home on the road (as there were no side walks and no lights on the road) when a car travelling into Crynant hit the three boys down, one was killed and the other two injured, the parents told this story in our evening paper, their Son wanted to go into the R.A.F. when he was seventeen, but they refused to sign for him to go, now they were so sorry they stopped him until he was old enough and/ were now blaming themselves.
I told his mother that I don't think we should stop him going, if anything happened to him in Canada then we could not blame our-selves he would be doing what he wanted. After we had that talk his mother decided to let me sign the papers. I know she did not want him to leave home. I was so glad that she did decide to let him go after I had that talk with her.
Although Keith was then sixteen years old, when we decided one more time to sell our home, and buy a new bungalow, we ended up staying where we were living until after Keith left for Canada. It was about two years later before we actually found a lovely Bungalow (out in Canada it is called a Rancher) in the suburb of "Elland," it was about three and half miles from the town of Halifax. I was doing well at work, and had been a "charge hand" for nine years. Edith was still working on days, then one Saturday morning when she came home from work she said the manager Mr Bill Eglinton who was my boss, told her to tell me that he wanted me on days the next week. When I went in that morning he called me into his office and said that he wanted me to take over as "Departmental Manger," on days. Our lives now, just got better and better. Before I go any farther I would like to say that I had worked hard to get to that position.
When I started on the wrapping machine on nights, I was only there six weeks when my manger called me into his office. I thought I was in trouble but he wanted to know how I had turned out 550 boxes of gum in one shift! It was an "all-time record." The most that had been done was 360 boxes, from any day or night shift. I told him that I did not go for a smoke break, as the "closet" we had as a "break room" was full of smoke. I not only learned to run the machine, I also learned to pack the packets into the box. Then, while my packer was on a break, I did his job as well. I said, "I hope I haven't done wrong." "No way," he replied, "If that's what you want to do, you carry on doing it."
I always give my best to the job whether it's for my employee or myself. God knew how I give my best, and he guided me for better things throughout my life. I know that it takes a lot of people to believe until they read the whole story then they will see Gods guidance throughout my life, and from that day on my Boss knew he had a good man to put in control, it was not long after that he found a job for the person he had in charge on nights, and made me go up to a "charge hand." I did that job for nine years on nights.
IF IT'S GOING TO BE, THEN IT'S UP TO ME TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
That's the strength of me all my life, God will guide you, it's up to you to carry it through, that's God's help to believe in your own life. If it's to be then it's up to me. I give my best always, and received God's guiding hand, all through my life, and giving my best I always ended up as a leader. I still thank the Lord every day for all the help I have received.
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CHAPTER 8
When I got to work on days we had moved into our New Bungalow. We had a lot of work to do in our new home, this was the time I could have done with Keith helping me, instead his Mother had to do it. Still we now had to manage on our own. It took us eight years again, to get it into a very nice place like the place we were living in before, it was very hard for both of us, we had to mix our own cement by hand and could not hire machines to do the rock in those early days, but we enjoyed doing the work when the weather allowed us to work outside. We could have done with "our Keith's" help. We sure missed him around our home. We had to spend the first week, of our two weeks holiday in the summer, to catch up with our garden. We always went down to Wales the second week to visit our families. In those days we never went abroad for holidays.
(DAD and Mom did a great deal to make this house very attractive. Dad build a cement fish pond that looked like a swimming pool it was so large, and about four feet deep - KEITH HUNT)
One of the things I do regret through the war years was that I missed out on a lot of "our Keith's" growing up years. I guess that was the unfortunate part of being in the War and away from home. It was very disappointing to miss a baby's life, especially the firstborn one, I must be thankful I came out of the war years in very good health and able to enjoy having him around me through all his life from his young days to the time he left for Canada.
(BUT with my Dad working on a night shift from 6 p.m to 6 a.m. and often 7 days a week for 9 or 10 months straight, I did not really know my Father very well up to my age of 11. Then he went on days, and I got to know him better until I left for Canada - KEITH HUNT)
We had been living in Halifax for almost eight years, we went down to Wales every holiday. We couldn't really afford to go anywhere else at that time, as the money was a bit scarce. I sent a letter to my Mam every two weeks. My Mam wrote us and told us that my Dad had Cancer of the Stomach. He was at home but he had to go into the hospital for an operation. Edith and I were able to have time off when my Dad was very ill, I went to visit my Dad in hospital a few times. I had to get in touch with my boss in Halifax to see if I could stay another week, as usual it was no problem.
Before my Dad was released from hospital, our doctor came to see my Mam. He told her that the operation was successful. However, he made out he wanted to see my car, which was parked outside. So my younger brother, Arthur, and I followed him outside. The doctor then told us the truth about the operation. They cut away half his stomach, and hadn't managed to cut away all the cancer. They only gave him five to seven years to live. "It would be best not to tell your Mother," he said. So we kept it to ourselves, my Dad was at home before we left to go back to Halifax.
We returned back to continue working, and my Dad lived for five years after that, before passing away. In those years, my Dad returned back to work, until his retirement at 70 years of age. He was retired for about 18 months before his death in 1955. In the meantime my younger brother, Arthur, was still at home. When my Dad was taken to hospital the Doctor told Mam to send for us. As there was no phone for her to ring us. My Mam got in touch with us straight away by mail, as soon as we received the letter we sent a wire back to let her know we were coming straight down and would arrive there the next day. I got in touch with my boss and as usual he told me to go and take as long as necessary.
We set off the next morning and arrived home that afternoon. My Dad passed away the next day. I was going down to the hospital when the Doctor came to tell us our Dad had passed away. We were there to help my Mam with the arrangements for his burial. We stayed till after his funeral. He was born on May 12, 1883 and he died on August 10, 1955. He was 72 years of age; he died of Cancer of the stomach. My brothers, George, he was the oldest, and four years older than me, and Arthur, was 5 years younger than I, my younger brother was there, as well as my sisters, Maud, and Win (Winifred). My oldest sister, Lilian could not come. My two brothers lived in Wales, and my three sisters all lived in London. So it was good to see all of them. My Mam was especially happy to see us. My Father originally came from London, he and my Mam were Cockneys (a cockney is someone born within the sound of "bow-bells" - a famous church).
The Funeral was held at St. Margaret's Church of England, in Crynant, Wales. This was my father's church and his village where he eventually came to make his home, and the one that he loved. As the cemetery in this church was full, Dad was buried at the new cemetery called "Maes yr Hendre." I have photo's of my Dad and my Mam new Tombstone. I am standing beside the new Tombstone that I purchased for them in 1997. Keith was with me when I went over in that year and he helped me to decide with the stonemason what I wanted for them.
This Cemetery was just below where Edith used to live. This is where Edith and I will have our "remains" laid to "rest." I have already made arrangements for our burial there, as we love the "little county" where we grew up and met in school. This is where we chose to "start" and "end" our lives together. We both loved the time we grew up there, and loved the country life. Later in life I realized a lot how I loved that little county, my Dad and Mam resettled to live their lives there, and were very happy there.
I was really surprised to find what my brother, Arthur, had done in those five years. Knowing our Dad hadn't long to live, he worked on our Dad to sign over the Stone Mason business to him, with a promise that he would give him a big pension when he 'retired' at the age of 70. Arthur also promised to look after our Mam after Dad had "passed on." Dad was 67 years old when he had the operation so he lived to just 72 years old. Arthur set about getting everything in his name, knowing what the doctor had told him and I. None of this ever materialized. Arthur bought a bungalow after selling Mam's home out from under her! She was not very pleased when she had to go to live with him and his new young bride. He got married just after our father died. I told Mam if she was not happy there to let me know. And eventually she did and I took care of all her troubles until the day she went to heaven. My Dad had promised that I would inherit the Stone Mason business. I was the only one to work with him through the twelve years that my brother Arthur, was in the Service, and away from home. These were my teen years, just before I was "called up" to the Service for the War. I was really annoyed at how my brother had secretly done me out of my inheritance. However, God knew what he had done, and He supplied me with a good job, so that I did not now need my Dad's business.
When my Mam wrote and told me that Arthur wanted her to let him have the house I warned her against it. However, she did finally 'give in' to Arthur's wishes and ended up without a home of her own. Arthur bought Mother's home from her and then sold it to buy a bungalow for himself and his new bride. Mam then became "extra baggage." Finally, Mam wrote me of her unhappy life with Arthur and his wife, and I set about to remedy the situation. In the end, I got in touch with the rest of the family, to see if they would agree to have our mother stay in turn with, each of us, for six month at a time, and that is what we did for her.
I made arrangements with them all. My three sisters were in London, so they would take her first. Then I would pick her up, and take her with me back to Yorkshire. After that, I would take her down to the village (Crynant) to stay with my brother, George. Then, once she had made the rounds, we would start all over again. Things were going great until she went to stay with my youngest sister, Win, for the third of the six months, in London.
Now let me tell you about my sister Win; after three months, she rings me up and told me that I would have to come and get "your dirty old mother, I have had enough of her messing all over the place." I just said that we would pick her up the next weekend. Edith and I went up to London at the weekend to pick my mother up, at that time, I asked Win, "What's this is all about?" She said, "Mam was not unwell," I asked her, "Have you had her to see the doctor?" Win said, "No need, as it was just her fault." Now you will realize how bad Win was, just like my younger brother Arthur, she wanted everything for herself, you will read about her later. I had to take Mother with us back to Halifax. I loved my Mother, that's what God did for my Mother. He gave her to me to take care of her.
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CHAPTER 9
We set off straight back to our home; on the way we stopped for lunch, and when I was talking to Mam, and asking her what she wanted to eat, she said, "I better not eat anything until we get to your place." When I got her home I said to her, "Mam you must have something to eat." She said to me, "Win had made her eat things that gave her the "runs." I told Mam, "You tell us what you can't eat, and we will not give it to you." I was so disgusted with what Win had done to our Mam! She made her eat the very things that Mam told her would give her the "runs."
We made sure we didn't give her, tomatoes, pork, and a few other things, and so she had no more trouble. Win knew from our young days at Christmas time we always had a Turkey and pork, our Man could not touch Pork as it give her the runs, and I'm sure if I remember that from my very young days, don't tell me she did not know that, I think she wanted to get rid of Mam. There were lots of other things we found out about our Win, we were very close growing up because my other two sisters had left home when we were very young.
Edith and I had a discussion that night and we decided to call in our doctor to see her. He gave her some medicine and we had no trouble again, all the eight months she was with us. She was once again a happy woman, but she did say, she would never go to stay with Win again. I told her not to worry about it. I would make sure she never would go with her again. While she was with us in Halifax I made a "Will" out for her, and I made sure that it was right by her. One thing was, that whoever she stayed with when she passed away, would get everything she had, she was very happy with that and so was I. I did not worry about her money. I had given Mam all my extra money when I worked in the mines. I was the one that should have had all her money, but that's not the way I am.
We kept Mam right up to our next holiday, before taking her to my brother George in our little village. This was where my Mother had spent all her life, in Wales. At first she did not want to leave me, but I told her that she could come back to us any time she wanted. I also told her that in the future she would only come to live with George or I. She was really happy about that. I told Mam that I was sure she would be happy with our George. Then I told her you know all the friends you have in Crynant and George and Miranda would take care of her for sure, and how right I was.
One day while she was with us, I happened to mention to Mam if she kept her insurance book with her, then Mam told me she had to sign for a new insurance book, when she was at Win's home. I asked her what she meant by that, as Mam was in the same insurance firm as I was (Pearl Insurance Company). I told her, "You do not have to pay or need a new book once you turn 80." My Mam said, "That is what her insurance man in London asked her to do." I was surprised, "Okay, my insurance man will be here next week and we will have a word with him." I said.
When he came to me, I asked him, "Has the clause about not paying when you are over 80 been changed?"
"No, they have not, you finish paying after you reach the age of 80," he said. I went on to tell him that while in London Win and the insurance man had got my Mam to sign for a new book. I asked her if she had her new book, as she was in the same company as I was. Mam said, "No, they didn't give me one." I asked my insurance man, why she had to sign, for a new book. He asked my Mam what had happened, and she told him. He said to me that it did not seem right to him, very suspicious. He would get in touch with the London office and get all the details.
He came back two weeks later and told me what had happened. Win and the insurance man had got my Mam to sign a paper to say that Win was to receive the insurance money when Mam died. The head office checked it out, the insurance man got the "sack," and the insurance policy was put back in Mothers name. That was one of the dirty tricks Win played on our Mother, unknown to me at the time, Win had done the same thing with the British Legion funds. I told you about my young brother and his promise to my Dad, well he had taken over the payments of this policy. He was expecting to get the benefit (20 pounds). I did not know about this or I would have changed that at the same time. The results of that will come up later. I could not understand why Win and Arthur were alike, they both wanted everything for themselves, why they were both alike may come up later in my story!
Now we were getting ready to go down to Wales for a two weeks holiday, we had a nice trip down; we always stopped for a meal and got Mam what she could eat. We had a nice meal and Mam enjoyed it believe me. We continued on our travels and it was a very nice sunny day, all the way down to Wales. We got to my brother Georges home in the late afternoon and saw Mam "settled in" before leaving to stay with Nancy (Edith's sister) for our holiday. From time to time we still called to see how mother was enjoying her stay with George.
We had a good holiday and as usual did a lot of travelling round our favourite places. Once again, we had nice weather. Why do I say that? If you knew the United Kingdom like I did, then you would know, that to have two weeks of sunny weather all at one time…. we were lucky! We did some years have a drought, and have five to six months of sunshine. Mind you, they were very few and far between. The only thing is the weather is so changeable and lots of windy days.
Now we were almost at the end of our holiday, we were travelling round to all our friends to say goodbye. The last day we spent with mother, she was very pleased with staying with George and Miranda (his wife). I told mother that if, at any time, she felt like coming up to Edith and I, that she should just let George know and he will get in touch with me. We said goodbyes to all the family as we were leaving next day, back to Nancy (Edith's sister.) for the last night. We always stay with Nancy as it's in between Crynant and Ystradgynlais away from the built up area, and lots of walks for the dogs, and I liked walking to the top of the mountings.
This was our last goodbye as next morning we set off back to Halifax. We were lucky once again we had a good ride all the way home, and a nice day until we got to Manchester, as usual, we got some rain the rest of our journey. Now we settled down to do a little work in the garden over the weekend and then, we started back to work on the Monday. When I travel I always said my prayers and asked our Lord God to watch over us and give us a safe journey and this is how the Lord God looks after me.
A few weeks after returning from our holiday I wrote to our Win. I was very annoyed with her, I really went to town with her, and I told her straight that the way she had treated her mother she ought to be ashamed of herself. I did not understand why she did not even take her mother to see the doctor before calling her "a dirty old woman." She and I grew up together as all the rest of the family were a lot older; I never thought that she would turn out that way. Since I sent her that letter, she's not been in touch with me. I'm sure not a bit upset about her and will still keep in touch with her, I do not fall out with anyone. Yes, I do tell them straight but I will always forgive them, as that is the way God wants me to be I hope .Win will keep in touch and just say she is sorry for the bad things she has done and lets get back to our normal friendship. I got all information from my oldest sister Lil as we have always kept in touch, Lil eventually passed away 1982. I always stay with Irene (Lillian's daughter, and my niece.) when I visit the U.K.
Now no one knows whether our Win is still in circulation, I have tried ringing her to ask her why but she puts the phone down. I think about her many times, if our Win will not contact me then that will be the end of our relationship I guess, still I never fall out with anyone, I will tell them straight, but if they come back to me I will always forgive them. I still love all my family, I will try and keep
in touch with Valerie and Royston (her daughter and son) but I guess that's if she will let them keep in touch with us.
I have to go back now to when Keith left us to go to Canada. We had been looking around at the places where they were starting to build new homes the south side of Halifax. It was the best side to live. We found a place in the little town of Elland, just three and a half miles from Halifax; they were building in that area. We went into the office. After a talk with the agent, we decided straight away which one we liked best when finished, it was the one with the biggest garden. We had a lot of extras done to our windows, and so on. It cost us two thousand five hundred pounds, and with the extras, it cost three thousand pounds altogether. They were finished and we were ready to move in six months later. We never regretted making that move. It took us no time to sell our place in Skircoat Green, and again, by the grace of God, we made a good profit.
We were still working at the same place in Halifax, when we moved into our new rancher in Elland. What a good move we did. We enjoyed every day we spent there. We had very good neighbours, Rita and Eric. They had one little girl when we first moved in there. Rita was on her own a lot, as Eric was working away and only came home at weekends. Kimberly was four years old at that time, and Rita was already expecting another baby. A little girl was born a few months later, and they gave her the name of Tracey. In the mean time we got to know Kimberly very well, as she was always with us wherever we went. Later, we even took her on holiday to Wales with us. She was five when her little sister was born we really enjoyed having her with us.
When Tracey was about three years old, she came everywhere with us during the week; we loved those two little girls. The enjoyment we had over the whole eight years that we lived there with the company of the children is unbelievable and we were very sorry to leave, but we had good reason to go that will come up later. When we were building a fishpond in our garden, Kimberly was always there to help Edith and I, we gave her a hammer and a few nails to knock into wood, she loved doing that and she loved doing lots of other things.
When it was our July holidays, we worked the first week in the garden, and then went away for the second week, taking Kimberly with us. Tracey was a little too young at that time. I could go on and on about the things we did, believe me. We loved every minute of the time we had with them, and the fun we got at Christmas time, and all through the years. It was just like having daughters. God seems to understand the desire of our hearts. We so wanted our own daughters, but it was not possible. I do believe God gave us these girls to cherish. We didn't have Keith with us anymore. Our good Lord knew we loved all little children, and throughout the years I still miss having children around me. I would like to place some photos of our beautiful back garden in this book, but Beverley moved away, and she was the one that knew how to do it, still she may come back to live in Keremeos later.
We sold that Semi in 1971 (we had lived there eight years) because we were getting near my time to retire and we wanted to get some money behind us. We still keep in touch with the girls and when we visit home, we always try and see them. Thank you girls; you gave us a wonderful time those eight years, some of the best years of our life. It's wonderful how God keeps bringing people into our life as others "pass out of it," bringing joy and happiness all around. We will never forget all those years in Elland. It was the best place we had up till that time, we did not want to move but we had made our minds up to retire either in Wales or Canada. We wanted to get as much money as we could to be able to buy a home of our own and decide where to go.
We were trying to save our money to immigrate to Canada just as soon as I retired. Keith was still in our thoughts and prayers and we were looking forward to being closer to him, and near our grand children or back to Wales. Edith and I had a lot to be thankful for; how our good Lord God guided us through those years! I got a good job in Halifax, at Mackintosh and meeting Rita and the girls. We often talked about what might have happened if we had immigrated to Australia instead of coming to Halifax, but we didn't have any regrets about the decision to stay, that we made at that time. I must say though, I did do well in my working life too. I had some of the best workers. They were a good set of boys and girls, and they worked hard for me. I always looked after them, and they didn't need the Union to back them up. I was very fair with them when it came to making a decision on any matter, they knew it was 'the right one. I appreciated having a good bunch working for me, and they knew they had a good boss.
A lot of them are still working there, and if they can make it when I have a trip over to Halifax, we have a few nights out in the pub, together. They tell me, many a time, "It's not the same since you left!" I'd done my best to get them to give the firm their best, as I always had done too. We all pulled together and got the work turned out every day. Sometimes, I would give them "extra" breaks if the work were caught up. My best years with the firm, was when I went abroad, to get our products started up. We had a month or two in Zambia, Sweden, and Germany. It was great.
I would just like to mention about the way Sweden stopped drinking and driving. The punishment that was given by the judge was anything from five weekends or more working on the road, they would be picked up from their work place and taken straight to the place where they had to work, they would be taken back to their homes late on Sunday night. It could be more weekends depending on the amount over the limit. Believe me, and when they entertained us at night we were taken out to a show it would be by them ordering a taxi.
We had been back at work about three months now, and the work was going very well. Edith and I were still very busy in the garden. Then, one day we got a call from my brother George to let me know that our Mam had to be taken into hospital, very sick. He wanted to know if we could come down as soon as possible. I had to see my Manager the next day, and ask him if it would be okay for me to go down to Wales, the manager said I could leave straight away, so we set off the next day. We had another nice day for travelling stopped at our usual "Little Chef" for dinner. Now it was time to set off to our home village in Wales. When we arrived at my brother's home, he gave me the news that they had told him she had Cancer of the bladder. We could stay with her all day. She was in the "special" ward.
They did not expect her to live more than a week or two, that's why we were all sent for. Anyway, that's what was in the Doctor's report. We made up a rotation for visiting. I took the 6:00 am to 2:00pm, my oldest sister Lil relieved me at 2:00pm to 10:00pm, then Win and Maud came on at 10:00pm to 6:am. Then I would come to relieve them. This went on for two or three days. Then on the third morning, nobody was there. I asked the nurse if they had seen my sisters during the night. She told me they had been there, but only for an hour, and she hadn't seen them since.
When Lil came at 2:00pm to relieve me, I told her what had happened. I decided that I would go up to Maud's son's (Colin) house where they were staying, and find out why they didn't stay any longer when I got there and asked them, why they did not stop longer their excuse was that our Mam kept asking them "When is Bill coming," that was all we heard. I said that was the reason you left her on her own, "Yes," they both said, "if you thought we were staying to listen to that all night from her, no-way." Well, I lost my temper with our Win and Maud for leaving her there on her own all that night. I said, "Why didn't you phone, you both knew where we were staying."
"Our Mam only wants you, we are going home tomorrow."
I said to both of them, "You could have stayed and asked the nurse to let you phone me, I would have stayed with her, it just goes to show how much you both loved your Mother."
After I lost my temper, and tore into them I told Win, that she had no business calling Mam a "dirty old woman," when Win was clearly to blame for making her Mother eat things that she knew gave her the runs. We had to take her to Halifax, and if she had looked after her properly, and stopped making her eat the food that she knew would give her the runs, there would not have been any reason for her to call her a dirty old woman. I knew later why she wanted to get ride of Mam after she got her to sign with the instance man for a new book. My sisters were angry that I had put the matter straight to them both. Well as I said before, I will tell them straight, but I'm always ready to have them realize what they had done and things which they may be sorry for.
They both went back to London the next day. But Mam got better! They found out it was not Cancer, but an abscess. Edith and I went back to work after Mam came out of the Hospital, and went back to live with George and Miranda. I had a talk to Mam the last day before returning to Halifax, I asked her if she was happy staying with George, she told me that she was quite happy with them. I again told her if she wanted a change to let George know. I would come down to take her back with us and then when she was ready we would take her back to George, I promised that she would never go back to stay with the others again.
It was about nine months later, when we got a call from our George to let us know again that our Mam was still there with him, when they had to call the doctor in as Mam was very sick, she was now unconscious, and the doctor said to him our mother had now gone into a coma from a blood colt. She had Cerebral Haemorrhage.
Edith and I again made the trip to Crynant. We stayed there, even though Mam was unconscious. I went straight up to her bedroom and held her hand while I talked to her to let her know I was there; I still held her hand for quite a while, I don't think she knew anything. Mam was still warm and laid there just as if she was sleeping. I went down to talk to George and he told me the doctor had just left when we got there. He told them that she was not suffering, just sleeping, yet may not see the morning. We stayed at her home with George until 10 p.m. then went to stay with Gee (Edith's mother) for the night.
I went up to her bedroom to see her before we left to sleep at Edith's Mother 's home for the night, it was close to George. If Mam passed on they would come to tell us no matter what time it happened. We both seemed to wake up at the sound we heard of running footsteps on the side walk, it was 6am and we seemed to know that they were coming to our door; we got straight up when the loud knock came on our front door, it was Veronica (my brother George's daughter) running down the road. We got up to let her in and she told us that Grandma had just passed away. We got dressed and went straight down to her home with her, and we stayed there the whole day until 9 p.m. Then we left to go up to stay with Nancy for the night.
I had to phone my boss up in Halifax once more and explained to him I would have to stop for one more week, he told me to take as long as I needed to. We had the funeral for Mam during the week following. The funeral was held in the same little Church that we had my Dad's funeral in, Saint Margaret Church of England. That's the Church they went to and brought us up to believe in God and Jesus Christ, and now the Lord knew it was time to take her to his wonderful garden, and one day we will all meet up in heaven. We had Mother buried with my Dad in the same grave. Mam was 82 years of age when she died. She was born in London on March 7th 1885, and she died on May 14th 1967. My Mam and Dad were both Londoners, both came from a large family, but I know nothing about their family, and heard nothing. They never talked about their families.
Maud and Win did not come down to see her, nor did they come to her funeral when Mam eventually passed away. Tubby, Maud's friend did come to Mother's funeral by himself. I had a long talk with him about why they would not come to the funeral. He said I told them straight that I was leaving first thing the next day, with or without them. He was a very nice person, and I did appreciate him coming I told him. We all liked him very much, and he was too good for our Maud. Win still does not talk to me, although, as the years have passed, I now still hold no grudge against her, life is full of good and bad times. God knows, and got me through all my up's and downs.
When Tubby got home at the end of the war he went straight to our Maud to give her the message he had from Cyril; he wanted her to know that he still loved her. He must have liked Maud as he stayed with her, as he was not married. When we first met him one holiday we had in London, I soon found out how nice a person he was, and we were all glad that he stayed in our family. That was the time he told me all about the Japanese Prisoners of war camp they were in, and how Cyril died. When you fell ill they would not give you any treatment and that was why he passed away, "I held him in my arms until his end came." Cyril and Tubby had been very-close friends, for all the years they were young. They were both very lice boys believe me! We liked Cyril as we had met him a few times during the time he was married to Maud.
Maud died around three years after her Mother died. But as far as I know, our Win is still around (writing in 2005). I lost touch with Tubby after Maud died, and as far as I knew after that every one in Wales lost touch with him. He did not seem to keep in touch with any of us, I really wish he had kept in touch with us. I kept in touch with our Lil until she died a few years ago. Now you know why I do not talk about my family. The only one I communicate with is Irene, my sister Lil's daughter. Who I stay with every time I go on holiday to the U.K. I was so glad when her and Michael came to live near us, when he finish with the service after serving with the Royal Navy for a long period; they were born in London. I still have them and all their family in my life.
"MY MOTHER"
TO THE ONE WHO BEARS THE SWEETEST NAME AND ADDS LUSTER TO THE SAME, WHO SHARES MY JOYS, WHO CHEERS ME WHEN SAD, THE GREATEST FRIEND I EVER HAD.
MY LIFE WITH HER WAS FULL OF FUN, NOW THERE'S NO OTHER CAN TAKE THE PLACE OF MY DEAR MOTHER.
THANK YOU MOTHER FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE, OVER ALL THOSE YEARS I HAD YOU, AND GOD FOR GIVING YOU A LONG LIFE.
THE SADEST DAY OF MY LIFE, THE DAY YOU LEFT ME TO STAY WTTH GOD. I WANT YOU TO KNOW GOD HAS GUIDED ME THROUGH MY WONDERFUL LIFE SINCE WE PARTED.
I THANK GOD EVERY NIGHT FOR HIS CARE HE GAVE ME FREELY, AND THE LOVE YOU GAVE ME IN MY YOUNG DAYS. I THANK YOU, AND OUR GOOD LORD GOD FOR THIS WONDERFUL LIFE I HAVE RECEIVED.
WILLIAM JAMES HUNT
……….
To be continued
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