The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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222411 Cpl. Edwin John "JayBee" Bass British Army 470 MAC Convoy Royal Army Service Corps from:Stranford Rivers, Onagar, Essex In Feb. 1944 I enlisted as an Apprentice Tradesman at 14 yrs of age and saw service overseas including being in Palestine during the close of the mandate. What I wish to tell is not that story. This happened during the hot summer of 1942; About 7 of us youngsters were swimming in a pool in the River Rhoding behind the White Bear, Stanford Rivers in Essex. I was born in this little village which is not far from the Hill Hall POW camp. A group of German POWs, escorted by two sweating, British Tommies marched across the field and settled under some trees obviously about to start their haversack lunch. I was startled by a tall, young man calling to me, "Hey young!" he said "be is it so good in the water?" I shouted back, " You´re a Narzzee. en yer!I don´t talk to`no nartzzees." He straightened up and said, "No no. You get it wrong. I be a good Cherman not one of them. Hokay hokay so you no speak with me who is just a boy a little older than you." I shouted, "Well, how old are you squarehedaß" and he answered that he was only a few years older than me. He then added, "We could hear you from two fields away, you boys make so much noise..." he pointed a finger at me, "That is why we comed here for our meal. My name is Johanness -- in English she be John. And one of you boys is also John -- " I interrupted loudly, "That´s me. I am John and my Mum said you Germans wuzz only young boys what got dragged into the forces --" "Your mother was very right," Johannes said, "We didn´t want to fight anyone..." John Bass Add to this record.  Related Content: Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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