The Dead Serviceman.
The Blitz had been a severe trial to Mother’s nervous state, never very robust. Now the Doodlebugs had arrived we were all on thorns for the future of the family. It was not merely the violence or her constant fear, but for a home-loving woman, her entire life was put on hold. There was precious food for her to cook us her delicious meals, fabric was on coupons, so dressmaking was difficult, and her flower garden had been given over to a henhouse, a rabbit hutch and rows of vegetables. It was called ‘Dig for Victory’ but the worm-eaten skinny produce we could harvest was more a harbinger of defeat in our house. Father made a bold decision. We would somehow find the money to give her and all of us a complete change. It was said there was cream to be had in Cornwall (but you had to keep it quiet) and a spell on a real farm after the rigours of outer London sounded like Heaven. The train services were unreliable, with long and uncomfortable waits between connection., There was no...