T H E C O V E N A N T E R
good mature Bn. As the RSM’s wife, I had to look as smart
The truth came out later that they were as possible, and with the right shoes, the
really after the Mr Profumo the Defence jersey wool suits were always admired. One
Minister, and picked on us well after the coat also admired was the grey fake fur with
event as a link to his problem. angora wool cuffs and large collar. This coat
One Christmas and New Year we sent came out for every dance or ball over four
Marion home to mums and Ian joined years in Minden, bought for Pat’s wedding
them. John and I were out every night for it was too decorative for every day wear. It is
two weeks attending Bns function running still in the cupboard 40 years later, Marion
Christmas draws, children’s Christmas says ‘it’s her heirloom’.
Parties, and finally the New Year’s Annual Nights in the Sgts Mess were very
Ball. We had clothes landing everywhere, entertaining, we had an excellent Dance
No 1 Dress, No 2 Dress, Mess Dress, Cocktail Band. We had theme nights but best of
dresses and Evening Dresses. We were all was the music and better still, the
absolutely tired out at the end of it. Twist started. John and I were very good
We always seemed to be the last to get our ballroom dancers. Dancing together since
leave, three times we made the trip to the 1945, but the minute the Twist started we
UK by car sharing the driving. Sometimes were hooked, we’d start about 9pm and
it was quite hair raising, on one occasion were still at it at 4am! We often walked
I had been driving, I woke John up to take home in the morning mist.
over and I guess his eyesight hadn’t quite One such night proved disastrous for
adjusted to the night, about five minutes me, I had made gingham circular skirts for
later I shouted ‘stop’ at the top of my Milly and myself, with a wide band at the
voice, we were heading for a 15 foot drop, waist with the very frilled underskirts - very
the tree lined roads in Belgium are poplars much in fashion.
and in the dark two roads diverging looked This night was themed which included a
like one. It happened again later, we drove fish and chip supped in a newspaper, about
straight into a town square, trees lined with midnight I began to feel a bit under the
same optical illusion. weather and I put it down to the mix of
We usually reached Ostend by 5am and drink, food and frantic dancing.
cooked breakfast on the grass verge before Next morning, I felt all right and took the
catching the ferry. children to a local lagoon (once a sandpit)
One year we went in August, Ian was still we went swimming, and as I entered the
at home, we reached the ferry no problem water up to my waist, it was quite cold I felt
and then came the worst sea journey I something jump in my right side, I didn’t
have ever made. We were at sea for seven think much about it. But, twenty four hours
hours we couldn’t get into Dover, even the later it was a different matter, I felt ill but
ship’s crew were sick, we eventually found had no idea why. The Doctor came and
a sheltered spot on deck and stayed there gave me some mixture and left. On taking
until we landed, we all looked green. The the medicine, I was violently sick, but not
Custom’s Officer took one look and quickly from the pain.
flagged us through we pulled up outside John took action, I staggered down to the
Dover and we all went to sleep. back seat of the car, with a basin across my
Each time we went home, both Milly and knees and he drove the 20 miles to Rinteln
I saved up our cash and I went up to Oxford Military Hospital, like a bat out of hell. On
Street. If the sales were in progress Milly arrival I was put into a wheelchair, at the
gave me her measurements and foot size. entrance there was a large mirror - I caught
Clothes in Germany were very expensive, sight of myself and I thought I was dying. I
apart from cotton underwear which was was a lovely shade of grey.
very cheap and Milly being a very small size I was in hospital for two weeks waiting
could only buy children’s clothes. for the inflammation to die down in the
One year I purchased for her a winters gall bladder, no food just lucozade. Then
coat, dressing gown, 2 pairs of size 3
1
⁄2 shoes, x-rays were taken, and the surgeon came
a skirt and blouse all for about £20.00. to me and said it was satisfactory, by that
For myself I went straight to Marks & I thought he meant the stones had gone
Spencers and bought three jersey wool through, not so!
suits and a jersey wool dress. They were The stone was the size of a peach stone
always one of the best buys, it’s a pity they the mixture of fish and chips, rum & coke
changed to synthetics in later years. and the cold water swim had dislodged it

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