Uncle Bill
-
Proud To Be A
Sherwood Forester
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The photograph on the left
is dated 29 April 1939 so pre-dates the war by a few months.
In the one on the right, the expression is the same but the smart
suit has been replaced by the uniform of the Sherwood Foresters
and the art deco furniture has gone forever.
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The trio of photos below
suggest a young new raw recruit posing for his family.
On the left with one of his sisters, Lorna and his dad Thomas
Birkin (my grandad); in the middle, alone and on the right with
his dad again and a neighbour. All three photos were taken outside
his home on Orchard Street where Bill lived most of his life.
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Two more serious poses -
perhaps the reality of war was beginning to dawn on this young
man. Although he looks assured on the left, I think he looks
particularly apprehensive on the right.
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You can see from the faces
below what the effect of war had had on these young men. Smiling
on 01 November 1939 (left) but not so happy later when the clothing
suggests a posting to North Africa.
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Two more poses
of Bill with wartime colleagues. The
one on the right reminds of a story he used to tell about a parade
where Winston Churchill would be doing the inspection. Standing
a little under five feet (1.5m) tall, Bill was told he was not
big enough to be on parade to meet such a distinguished guest.
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He retorted that if he was
big enough to be on the front line when all the bullets were
flying then he was big enough to meet Churchill. Needless to
say he went on the parade! It also reminds me of the TV series
"It Ain't Half Hot, Mum" in which five foot man, Don
Estelle starred as Gunner "Lofty" Sugden. Uncle Bill
met Don one year whilst on holiday in Bournemouth where Don was
taking part in the stage show of the series. Apparently they
got on like a house on fire and Don is reported to have said
"At last I've met someone I can look in the eye when I talk
to them". Both little men with big hearts.
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A group photo now with
Uncle Bill taking centre stage. |
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And here's another group
photo below with Uncle Bill centre stage again. I didn't know
where this was taken but I suspected from the buildings in the
background that it was somewhere in Italy. Now I have been informed
by a good internet friend, Paolo Borgognone (who has sent me
the picture on the right) that it was taken in Rome "right
in front of the church of Saint Peter, the greatest church of
Christianity and 'home' of the Pope". Thanks Paolo. You
can visit Paolo's site at
Rome Cam.
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The photo below left has
a handwritten inscription on the back (centre) dating it June
1944 and again shows the effect of war. Notice the glazed look
in eyes that had seen the horrors first hand. The picture below
right which looks as though it was taken at the same time also
screams "I'm tired of this war!"
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Happier times nearly a quarter
of a century later on holiday in Cornwall with sister Lorna and
her daughter Ann and, if I'm not mistaken, that's the badge of
the Sherwood Foresters still worn proudly on his blazer.
Bill's other sisters Joan
and Doris also played their part in the war as air raid wardens
and are seen below with their father, Thomas. Joan, the last
surviving sister and her husband Allan , celebrated 57 years
of marriage in July 2003.
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As this page was originally
created on Father's Day, June 18 2000, I couldn't let the opportunity
pass and included a photo (left) taken at Joan's wedding in 1946.
It shows another father and another Thomas - Newton - his wife
Doris (the same as above) and a cute child that modesty prevents
me from naming!
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