207821 L/Bdr. Albert Briggs British Army 568 Bty Royal Artillery from:Manchester My father Albert Briggs. He was called up 12 December 1940 which was just after we were bombed out of our home. In March 1941 my older sister who was just 6 years old died of Diphtheria and the day after her funeral my lovely mother had to go into the same hospital where my sister had died as she was a suspected carrier of the disease. I was just 3 years old at the time. I was told that my father was given compassionate leave and overstayed his allotted time(which was understandable under the circumstances) and the Redcaps came to take him back.
Although I was just a baby I can recall being in my auntie's bed and the bedroom door was ajar and a soldier was looking at me. I realise now that was my first memory of my father. My second memory was meeting him at the railway station when he was on demob leave. My mother was a great fan of Bing Crosby and took me to the local picture house in Withington nearly every Saturday night. I remember thinking at that railway station "My Dad looks nothing like Bing Crosby" I soon got over my disappointment as not only was he more handsome but he was a wonderful father.
He spoke very little about any of the horrors of war but told us many funny stories about his time in North Africa and Italy. He often sent parcels home and my mum and I always received a telegram at Christmas and on our birthdays. I treasue them to this day.
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