Here's another story from contributor Hilda Graham, with more to come later on from her husband: 

"Dear Bess:
I have not been on the computer very much for some time because we have been remodeling our home as well as keeping our six month old great granddaughter Lauren.  She is a doll and does require a lot of my time.  I plan on starting writing again, as I still have many stories that I hope you and your readers will be interested in.  Since we will have been married 59 years on the 17th. of October,  I thought you might be interested in the time we had together before Eddie was sent back to the States.   Sincerely, Hilda"

After the Wedding

After our wedding day which we described to you in detail, we were ready to settle down and really get to know each other.  We had not been together enough to make any plans for our future, due to circumstances beyond our control (like a war).

Oh, how we dreamed of a perfect life as all young couples do, the things we would do, the places we would visit, what kind of a home we would have, how many children (two would be ideal).  Eddie was going into the restaurant business with his father and I would take care of home and family, we worked it all out. 

The main thing in the back of our minds was the fact that we would have to be apart for a while, as the rumors persisted that Eddies group was going to be sent back to the states to prepare to go to the South Pacific, which was a possibility.  We tried to think positive and Eddie would sneak off the base every night to be with me.  He had arranged with his friends for them to get word to him if the order came at short notice for them to ship out.  We did not live too far from the base.  The men had figured out a way to get off base undetected (they thought).  They called it the Burma Road, which was a short cut through some unsuspecting farmer's field.  The MP's knew all about it, as they used it themselves when they were off duty.

It was funny one morning when Eddie arrived back to the Quonset hut where he was billeted.  There was a mother cat that had just given birth to her kittens on his cot.  Oh, what a surprise that was for him!  He and his buddies found a box and made a comfortable home for mother and kittens.  I bet these were the best fed cats in England as all the boys would give them food.  Later we found someone in the village who took them and promised to find a good home for mom and babies.

During our first weeks of marriage Eddie and I were so happy.  I felt so secure even though I missed my family.  He would console me when the thought of being separated was almost unbearable.  Soon I discovered that I was pregnant which had not been in our immediate plans, but we were not as sophisticated as the young people of today.  Come to think of it, we were naïve for many years <G> as we had six children and love them all.

But back to first child.  We knew that Eddie would not be there when she was born, for we knew he would be leaving England soon.  Thank God that I had a loving family and would have Mother and Father with me, but oh, how I wished that Eddie could be with me for the birth of our first child.  We were not the only ones who had to face this ordeal for there were many others in the same situation; after all this was wartime.  Every day Eddie and I thought this might be the last time we would see each other until the war ended.  We treasured each precious moment together and I thought my heart would break when the time came for him to leave.  I had grown to love him so much, and I knew this love was returned.  We knew we were truly in love and that we were meant to be together.  This love has lasted all these years.

I had meant to write a different story, a funny one which I will write in the future, but memories just kept creeping into my mind of those early days of our marriage.

The little village where we lived, the quiet walks in the woods, even though the weather was very cold, and the things we talked about.  The old donkey in a field near where we lived - we would often take a potato or a carrot for him.  He seemed to know when we were approaching as he would let the loudest neighing.  We felt he got to know us and of course he enjoyed being fed.  I guess this might seem foolish but these were some of my fondest moments.  Such simple things but such vivid and happy ones.

I am almost through with this part of my story but another memory which is so funny happened at night time (don't get the wrong idea I am not about to reveal any intimate details about our love life) <G>.  It was so cold at night that the lady we rented from would fix a hot water bottle made out of crockery which was very heavy when filled with hot water.  She said this would ward off chills.  It was so kind of her as our feet would be freezing and it was no fun getting into a cold bed.  Remember there was a shortage of coal for heating the homes.  Coal, coke, electricity and gas were all rationed.  We could not buy extra blankets or warmer night clothes.  I remember putting Eddie's heavy coat across the bed to help keep us warm.  Remember the old song "I've got my love to keep me warm"?  Well, even that did not work. 

I have strayed from the funny part. I do not think they made beds as long back then, because Eddie was nearly six feet tall and it seemed that almost every night when he stretched his legs he managed to push the hot water bottle out of the bed and it hit the floor with a big bang.  If anyone was downstairs at the time they would think a bomb had dropped.  Eddie and I could hardly contain our laughter !!  Oh, but these were wonderful times.  If you have read all this, I hope you can understand why I remember all these memories.

I really do have a follow up for later, and I promise, it is very different, although it ties in with all these fond memories of so long ago.

Trip home with cases

Christmas was fast approaching and the rumors were flying that Eddie's group would be back in the States for Christmas.  We were both feeling very unhappy at the thought of not being together for our first Christmas.  It was a sad time for us.  In early December the group was told to prepare to leave at a moment's notice.  All the airmen had their things packed and most were happy at the thought of being home for Christmas.  I told my parents that I would probably be home for Christmas due to this situation.

One day Eddie came home and gave me the biggest hug that took my breath away, and he was smiling and told me he had a wonderful surprise for me.  He then told me that Lt. Miller had called him in and asked if he would like to stay in England a little longer since we had been married such a short time, and he could arrange to transfer Eddie to another unit that would be there a little longer.  Naturally Eddie said YES!!  Oh, what a wonderful surprise that was for me.

When Eddie's buddies heard the news they were happy for him, and by now they had started receiving Christmas packages from their families back home: cookies, canned hams, home baked fruit cakes, candies, and even an electric iron with step down transformer ( 220 volts down to 110 volts) and so many other things we can't remember.  So many of these things could not be taken back because of the weight constraints.  Many of the boys put these packages on Eddie's bunk to bring home to me. 

I was so thrilled and decided to go visit my family before Christmas.  I wanted to surprise them with all of the food etc., so much of which they had not had during the war.  I was so excited.  Eddie could not make the trip with me because of his pending transfer to a nearby base.

I filled two extra large suitcases, barely having enough room for my clothes, and each weighed about as much as I did <G>. I made arrangements for train tickets leaving Beccles on December 19th and returning on the 23 so I could be with Eddie for Christmas. I did not let my family know I was coming for I really did want to surprise them.  (BIG MISTAKE!)

Eddie helped me get to the train and seated in the compartment, putting my bags in the luggage compartment.  I had not given any thought to how the trains were always running late and about having to change trains in Ipswich and also London or about how heavy these cases were.  Ipswich was no trouble but London was a different matter.  Fortunately there were two RAF airmen who were going to Scotland, and would be taking the same train as I.  They graciously offered to help me carry the luggage to the other station. Thank God for that.

As usual the trains were late so this made me arrive home after the station was closed and the last bus had left.  No phones around or no cabs during the war because of the gasoline shortage.  Here I was, pregnant, all alone, freezing, had 5 miles to get home, and I had not told my family I was coming.  No way to contact them and it was pitch black - oh, what a dilemma.  I could not leave my luggage at the station for it would surely have been stolen in the early morning light.  So what to do?

Well, I will tell you what I did.  I took one case and carried it as far as I could and sat on it for a few minutes, then felt my way back for the other case.  I did this the whole five miles, and got to my home at 4:30 AM as dawn was just breaking.  I knocked on the door and I heard my father coming down the stairs.  When he opened the door I never saw anyone look so surprised in all my life.  When I explained what had happened, boy, did I ever get a lecture.

"Why didn't you let us know you were coming, you silly little bugger?"  My father was not inclined to use bad language, but he was so concerned about me.  I was so tired and cold and was still his little girl <G>.

Soon my mother was downstairs and also my two little brothers.  Oh, what a joyful reunion!  My mother made hot tea and my father made a fire in the fireplace since there was no central heat at that time.

I will never be able to explain the joy on my brothers' faces when they saw all the candy and other goodies.  My mother and father actually had tears in their eyes, for they had not seen so much food for such a long, long time.

They were disappointed that I would not be with them for Christmas, but yet they were happy that Eddie and I could be together for our first Christmas.  Needless to say I took the earliest train for my return to be with Eddie, and left one case behind. 

We had made plans to meet at the station on my arrival.  As usual the train was late and it was very foggy as I got off the train.  I could hardly see and I bumped into someone; would you believe it was Eddie?  Oh, how wonderful it was to be back with him again.

While I was visiting with my parents Eddie had met another airman and his wife, who had also been married a short time.  They were looking for a place to live in Beccles nearer the base.  Our landlady had a guest room so Eddie talked with her, explaining that they needed a place to live for a short time.  She was very gracious and consented to rent the room to them.  I got to meet them that night after returning from Corby, and we hit it right off the bat.  Jim and Frieda were a very nice couple.  Our landlady, Mrs. Bedwell, was going to visit her daughter for Christmas, so the four of had full use of the house while she was gone. 

Remember it was Christmas time, and Frieda and I had only a day to plan a Christmas meal.  Somehow Frieda had acquired a plum pudding and we were going to make a custard to go with it.  We knew that Mrs. Bedwell kept a bottle of Scotch whiskey in pantry for her nightly toddy.  We thought she would not miss it if we took a little for the custard.  As we were making the custard we decided it did not taste exactly right, so we kept adding a little bit more whiskey until it tasted fairly good.  We felt a little guilty upon looking at the whiskey bottle and decided to add a little water so she would not notice any of her whiskey was missing.  This was not very nice of us, and I have often thought that this was a mean thing we did.  But we were young and this our first Christmas dinner with our husbands.  You know, I can't remember what else we had except the pudding and custard.

Eddie and Jim did get her a bottle of whiskey and gave it to her for New Years', we don't think she ever noticed anything amiss with her whiskey, but we felt better about it.

Frieda and I were good company for each other while Eddie and Jim were at the base.  Oh, I forgot to mention, Frieda was also pregnant.  There must have been something in the water in Beccles <G>. 

We became very good friends and were able to boost each other's morale, as we knew that at any time our husbands would be going back to the states.  Eddie did get a pass and we were able to visit my parents in February.

The rumors were still flying that this unit would soon be leaving and we knew that this was going to happen soon.  I had a funny feeling that Eddie and I would not be together in England much longer.  He was allowed to stay until May 1945.  He and Jim went to the base one day early in May and they were restricted, for the time had come for them to leave.  We did not even get to say good-bye.  This was the worst time in my life.  I thought I could not bear to be without Eddie. 

The next day Frieda and I made our travel arrangements and we were able to travel to London together.  Her family lived in Essex.  What a sad parting - we were clinging to each other and crying.  I went home to my parents and they were wonderful, giving me all the love and comfort they could.  It was almost 3 weeks until I heard from Eddie.  He had been sent to Alamogordo, New Mexico and from there to San Antonio Texas where he was discharged.  Soon I started receiving letters from him, one nearly every day, and sometimes I would receive two.  Oh, how I looked forward to those letters and was always waiting for the mailman.

Time seemed to pass so slowly, (wish it would now) <G>,  I would take my two young brothers for walks, I still had lots of friends there, but it was always Eddie I was thinking of.

Then came the big day our first daughter was born; August 30, 1945.  What a thrill it was having my little baby Yvonne, it helped so much taking her out in her pram and showing her off to my friends.  How I wished Eddie could have been there to see his pride and joy.  I was waiting for the time when we could all be together.  The babies had to be 6 months old before we would be allowed to travel to the states.  We were supposed to get 10 days notice when we would be leaving, but as usual (for me, that is) I only received 48 hours.  I had read in the news that the Queen Mary was going to be taking war brides that weekend, and I assumed that I would be on that list.  WRONG!

Now I am going to finish this story.  Eddie has written about my trip to the States and will post that story. I will tell you this, I sent a telegram to Eddie telling him that I would be coming on the Queen Mary,  I forgot to mention that this was early February 1946, Eddie was working with his father in Alice, Texas, but was going to meet me in San Angelo where the family home was.  I think when you read his story you will understand why I told you this.

From Bess:  Hilda, we will be looking forward to the next installment from Eddie.  Don't wait too long!  

Note #2:  See Eddie's story.

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