Her memories of mum and dad

By Nicola Benge

Pretty as a picture!

Photo from WRVs Heritage Plus Archive

Vera in a courtship reminiscence activity at Portslade WRVS

Photo from WRVs Heritage Plus Archive

Tea for two

Photo from WRVs Heritage Plus Archive

My father had the name of Absolom Adolphus Allen. He fought in the 1914-18 war, and on Saturdays, when I was a little girl, he used to go to the pub in Connaught Place and talk about the War with his friends. He was full of war stories.

We were left at home in charge of our cousin Charlie and Cousin Ivy, who were after each other. Used to spend most of the time in the scullery kissing and cuddling.

My father worked in the Royal Albert Docks after that war, as a lighter man.

First World War

My father said that war was one long laugh. He said the trenches for the Germans were very close to ours, and so our boys would spend a lot of time playing tricks on the Germans. They used to get them to pop their heads up and then they'd shoot, you know? Poor things.

And yes, I believe that famous football match did take place, then they just went back to their trenches, on both sides. They were just ordinary men, didn't want to be at war at all.

When my mother died, he was only 37 years old, and do you know, he never looked at another woman.