Quote Originally Posted by Fileytyke View Post
If you ask some of the elder generation who lived through the 2nd World War and lost loved ones who were killed in action by the Germans or died through being bombed by the Germans maybe you would understand the hatred there was against the Germans and Japanese.It was the same in Germany and Japan whose loved ones were killed by the British and Americans,they hated us and the Yanks.I lived through the war and went to school during it and remember going down the air raid shelters at home and at school.I also lost two uncles who were killed in action against the Germans,but that was how people felt on both sides.
The worst memories about the war was on Christmas Day 1944,I had heard about this wonderful man called Father Christmas who delivered presents to all the boys and girls.During the war everything went into the war effort so no toys were made,if you were lucky to have a Dad who was a bit handy you got home made toys,my poor old Dad couldn’t knock a nail in straight so I was unlucky.My Mother had died in 1943 so us kids had to go and live with Grandma because our Dad was working down the pit and couldn’t look after us.On that Christmas morning I came down the stairs expecting to see lots of presents from Father Christmas but there was nothing there.I asked my Grandma if he had been and her answer was “He was coming and had lots of presents for you but do you know what happened?” Then she said “Them bloody Germans shot him down over the North Sea but he bailed out and with a bit of luck he will get through next year.Even us kids hated the Germans for shooting down Father Christmas.Us British didn’t shoot the German Father Christmas down but I think the German kids still hated the English.
Good of you to share your thoughts and experiences Filey. My grandparents were Polish and Czech. Split from their families (who they never saw again) by the Germans during the war and came over here to get work. My Czech grandfather was a miner, hence why he came to Barnsley. Horrible times for almost everyone. I sometimes wonder how they coped because they were young, had no family to help, couldn’t speak English initially and had little choice but to get on with it and integrate into their new surroundings.

He (my grandfather) died in 1985 when I was an infant. I vaguely remember him but my Grandmother lasted many years longer and told me many stories of war-time but I still can't fully understand the heartbreak and hardships people suffered. We are very fortunate and I realise that. Sometimes when people go on about the Covid pandemic being in lockdown etc, I think it must be nothing to how things were in the war.

My grandfather was a football nut and went to Oakwell regularly until he was too ill to do so. So then supporting the reds was passed down the family as it tends to be.

Keep well Mr Filey and all the best