A FAMOUS GENERAL - FROM ANON

My husband and I were married in August 1940. We spent our honeymoon in Harrogate. On our way home to a cottage we had rented in Brandesburton, we called to see my father in Hessle and caught the 9.30 p.m. Hornsea bus. It was a very bright moonlight night. Arriving in Beverley there was an air raid warning, we were told the bus would continue but passengers travelled at their own risk. We stayed on, arriving in Brandesburton just as the air raid warden was going round on his bike, blowing his whistle for the "All Clear".

After six weeks my husband received his calling up papers: and joined the Army. After his training he had pneumonia and spent some time in hospital in Derby. They did not discharge him but he had to have light duties. He was sent to the Barracks in Sowerby Bridge.

The Colonel in charge had rented a lovely old house in a nearby village for his wife and two small children, Daphne and Jennifer to join him. He wanted a batman whose wife could live with them and help look after the children.

We got the job. We had our own apartment. The Colonel's wife had lost a brother in the war, he was a surgeon in the Navy. He had left a widow and two young boys Peter and Michael so the Colonel and his wife were their guardians. The boys came for holidays. Peter was a lively mischievous little boy. I took the four children to a circus in Halifax. We had ringside seats. There was a bucking Bronco and anybody who could stay on his back got some money. Before I knew he'd moved, Peter was on the animal's back, but not for long, he was soon tossed off, unhurt thankfully.

After a time the Colonel was moved and I came back to live with my father, my husband returned to the Barracks.

Many years later I was surprised to hear on the news about General, Sir Peter de la Billiare, who commanded the war in the Gulf and other places, ecause he was the mischevious little boy I looked after. He has recently published his autobiography "Looking for Trouble". He mentions his childhood and his holidays in Yorkshire as a child. I never imagined him becoming a great General.