Open Writing

These were happy days in Campalogna. Occasionally Harold and I went to a nearby racecourse, where I backed a horse once called Paola simply because of its name. It won. Paola was delighted when I arrived 'home' and told her. I loved these children. They were all well behaved, although Paola was a bit of a tomboy. I taught the older girls a few simple card games, and Topper came and played the piano.

At last we heard that all the men who had sailed with the Bays were to leave on PYTHON. I forget now what the letters signify, but they stood for the period of four years spent overseas. So on 24 August a farewell PYTHON dinner was held in a local hall. We had menus, which we all signed for each other. There were the usual speeches, and it was a happy occasion, but in a way tinged with sadness. The Regiment was not going home, only the men who had served four years abroad.

I was leaving the Queen's Bays after five years, and leaving behind friends like Sid Aster, Jack Ryder, Jackie White, and Colin Rawlins, men who had joined the Regiment during the time we'd been abroad.

Major Rowlands had been replaced as our Squadron Leader by the recently promoted Captain (now Major) Crosbie Dawson, who was away at the time, so was unable to attend the dinner. But later we all received a letter from him. It was a typewritten duplicated letter thanking us for the help and support we had given him, and wishing us well. Across the bottom of mine he had written: 'P.S. We miss your cheerful face a lot. No one in this war has done a better job than you. Good luck.'

26 August: 'Definitely going home tomorrow! Wrote 376th letter home — and last from here! . . . Had letters from Jessie, mother and Margaret — and Marie.'

27 August: 'Said goodbye to the Matarese family and promised to write . . . Paola cried ... In truck to Udine station. Flags flying, bands playing ... train left about 11.30 a.m. In usual cattle trucks. Stopped at Padova for a meal about 6.30 p.m.'

28 August: 'At 2 a.m. we had to change trains (don't know why). After hectic half hour or more got in a compartment at Verona. Had uncomfortable night's sleep, and awoke to find us stopped in Bologna station. Bright and sunny, through Forli, stopped at Rimini for meal then Ancona. Followed coastline all way down.'

This was the east coast, and we were heading for Foggia where there was a big air base. From here we were to be flown home.

On the 29th we were awakened at 4 a.m. (We always seemed to be up in the middle of the night). We had arrived at Foggia and were taken by lorry to a transit camp: 'First party went to aerodrome at 7.30 a.m. but none after that. Plenty of rumours but nothing doing. Very hot — flies — poor food — roll on the plane. Ted, Joe and I played crib all day long. Hot night.'

Thursday, 30 August: 'No parties going today but ten going from Squadron tomorrow. Had to cut for it and Ted is going. Joe and I unlucky. Say we're going on Saturday. Went into Foggia and bought a couple of melons and grapes. Played crib rest of day. Very hot indeed.'

Saturday, 1 September: 'Got up about 4.30 a.m., had breakfast and paraded at 5.30 a.m. Straight down to Foggia aerodrome (one of them). Canteen there. Got on plane (Liberator) about 7 a.m. and took off at 7.30 a.m., 25 of us in one plane — riding in bomb racks.'

We couldn't see anything from the bomb racks but were allowed in turn to the back of the plane where we could look out. This was the first time I'd flown. 'Wonderful sensation - enjoyed it tremendously. Everything below looked like toys.'

Seven hours after leaving Foggia we landed at Glatton airfield near Peterborough and stayed there overnight. It was a marvellous feeling to be back in England — this time to stay.

Next morning we were taken in lorries to Peterborough Station - no cattle trucks this time, but where were we heading? Richmond Station in Yorkshire and from there in lorries and 'back to square one'. Catterick Camp of all places, where everything had started ... a lifetime ago.