Joan's Memoirs

7/30/2019 Joan's Memoirs

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Table of Contents

LeonardPalmer1943............................................................................................................3

TheLifeandTimesofLeonardWildmanPalmer,Lt.ColonelU.S.A.F.,[Ret.]................4 PalmerFamilyTree........................................................................................................................11Palmer/CortFamilyTree1585-1971.......................................................................................12HistoryofOurPalmerandCortAncestry................................................................................13

JoanHallPalmer....................................................................................................................21 JoansMemoirs.................................................................................................................................22Part11920-1936.......................................................................................................................................22Part21937-1942.......................................................................................................................................28Part31942-1944.......................................................................................................................................32Part41944-1946.......................................................................................................................................37Part51947-1954.......................................................................................................................................41Part61954-1957.......................................................................................................................................44Part71957-1960.......................................................................................................................................48Part81960-1968.......................................................................................................................................52Part91966-1971.......................................................................................................................................56Part10................................................................................................................................................................59

FamilyofJoanG.Palmer(neeHall)..........................................................................................62Pre-WarStories................................................................................................................................64MyHongKong.................................................................................................................................................64AslowboattoChina.....................................................................................................................................66MaltaGeorgeCrossIsland......................................................................................................................68MakeMineMusic......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......70Carrick-1929-1932......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... 73AnInnocentAbroad......................................................................................................................................75 Mamie......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... 76StillNoRoomintheInn..............................................................................................................................78

WorldWarIIStories.......................................................................................................................80AwarbrideremembersherAtlanticcrossing..................................................................................80 Yanks...................................................................................................................................................................82Grandma,WhatDidYouDoinTheWar?.......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......84Grandma,WhatDidYoudoinTheWar?(continued)...................................................................87"Bride-Ship"1946-AMemory................................................................................................................89IncidentatAscot.............................................................................................................................................91 WarandRemembering...............................................................................................................................92MyMulti-coloredSuit...................................................................................................................................94

MarriedinHaste............ ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... .95InterruptedHoneymoon.............................................................................................................................97 AfterWorldWarII:IntheUSA....................................................................................................99

MedicalMemories..........................................................................................................................................99Therewaslifebeforewashingmachines......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ....101Thirtyyearsatthehelm......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .........103AnincidentonArborAvenue................ .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .104DoubleJeopardy(ATrueTale)................ .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... .......106Leonard......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ..107


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InternationalRelations.......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .108StoriesofHerChildren...............................................................................................................109MaternalMatters......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ....109TheMilkofHumanKindness......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .........111MothersMaxims......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ....113ChildrenForRight............ .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... .......114ClimbEveryMountain........... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .115TheDayIthoughtIhadDrownedmychildren......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ..117

AuntSheilasStories....................................................................................................................118LieutenantTibbs........... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ..118AuntGladys......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... ......119AuntMilly............... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ..120Wendy......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... ......121


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LeonardPalmer1943


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TheLifeandTimesofLeonardWildmanPalmer,Lt.ColonelU.S.A.F.,[Ret.]

LeonardWildmanPalmerwasthefourthchildofColonelWalterEdgarPalmerandRosePalmer(neeStevens).HewasborninChicagoonApril27thorApril28th,1918,andlivedat2526SouthAustinBlvd.,Cicero,Illinois,untilhegraduatedfromJ.SterlingMortonHighSchoolin1935.Hehadanoldersister,Dorothy,andtwoolderbrothers,RichardandWalter,Jr.,bothnowdeceased.DuringhishighschoolyearshebecameanexperttumblerandplacedthirdintheannualAAUChampionshipMeetinhissenioryear.

Aftergraduation,LeonardjoinedtheArmyasaprivate,inJune1935,duringtheGreatDepression.Hewasassignedto"D"Companyofthe2ndInfantryDivisionatFortSheridan,Illinois,andlearnedhowtohandlemules,machineguns,automaticriflesandtheSpringfield1903rifle,aswellastheColt45caliberpistol.Hebecamefullyqualifiedinalltheaforementionedweapons.

AfterayearintheInfantry,Leonardwastransferredtothe6thFieldArtilleryBrigade.ShortlythereafterhetransferredtotheSignalCorpsandwasstationedinChicagoattheQuartermasterDepot,rightclosetothestockyards(phew!).Heremainedatthislocationforthreeyearsand,sincehewasaradiotransmitterattendant,hemanagedtocompleteJuniorCollege.

InJanuary1941,hebecameanAirForceFlyingCadetandwastrainedinprimaryflyingschoolinthe

Stearmanbi-planeatSikeston,Missouri.AfterthreemonthshewastransferredtoSanAngelo,Texas,wherehebeganbasictraininginBT-13aircraft.HethenmovedtoSanAntonio,Texas,learnedtoflyanAT6aircraftandgraduatedasaSecondLieutenant.

LeonardwasassignedtoMitchellField,LongIsland,wherehewastoflyP40andP39aircraft.Aboutthistime,herealizedthatbeingafighterpilotwasadangerousoccupation,sohefinagledatransfertothe12thTransportSquadron,wherehelearnedtoflytheC52(commercialaircraft.)

InDecemberofthatyear(1941)PearlHarborwasattackedandlifechangedforalmosteveryone.LeonardwastransferredtoWestoverField,Mass.,wherehetookoverthejobasHqSquadronCommanderofthe60thTransportGroup,anewlyformedgroup.

WiththeirbrandnewC47s(GooneyBirds)thesquadronflewtheAtlantictoChelveston,England,viaPresqueIsle,Maine,Gander,Newfoundland,BW3inGreenlandandReykjavik,Iceland.AftermovingtoChelvestonLeonardwastransferredtothe51stTroopCarrierWing,wherehebecameCommunicationsOfficer.SincehewasalreadyhelpingtomantheWingHq.,hearrangedforthehiringofthreesecretariesfromanearbyBritishAirMinistrydepot.MissHall,the"mostqualified"(!)ofthethree,becamesecretarytotheWingCommanderand,later,Lt.Palmer'sgirlfriend.

TheHeadquarterswaslocatedatBowdownHouse,alargeestateonGreenhamCommon,Berkshire.TheestatehaditsownpowerplantandshortlyafterhisarrivalLt.Palmertookoveritsoperation.

FromGreenhamCommonLeonardwastransferredtoLondon,promotedtoCaptain,andarrangedforthetransportationofAmericantroopstoNorthAfrica.InNovemberhewastransferredtoNorthAfrica,butpriortoleavingEngland,askedMissHalltobecomehiswife.

NOTE:Lt.Col.Palmerhasagreedtoconducthisbiographyinthefirstpersonfromthispointon-it'salittlelessconstrained!

AfterahazardousseajourneyIarrivedatLaSeniaAirportinOran,Algeria,whereIbecameOperationsOfficerandduringthisassignmentwasresponsibleforsupplyingthegroundtroopsfightingatKasserinePass.LaterthatsummerIwastransferredtoAlgeriaandthentoSousse,inTunisia.BythistimeI'dbeenpromotedtomajorandwasputinchargeoftheAidstoNavigationforanassaultonRome,whichwaslatercancelled.

AboutthistimeanopportunityaroseformetotakeatriptoEnglandforsupplies.IobtainedpermissiontoflyviaAirTransportCommand.TheplanestoppedatOran,whereIpickedupabugthatafewdayslaterdevelopedintobacillarydysentery.Iarrivedatthe9thAirForceHeadquartersinAscotwhereJoanworkedonaMondayandaskedherifwecouldgetmarriedonWednesday.She


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decideditwastoosoon,butdidagreetomakeitthenextday,June3,1943.SinceitwastobeaCatholicweddingwehadtogetadispensationfromthebishop,whichFr.Dunstan,afriendofthefamily,arrangedinshortorder.ThenightbeforetheweddingIdevelopedafeverofover104degrees,butnothingdaunted,Idecidedtogoaheadwiththeplans.

TheweddingtookplaceatDouaiAbbeybutIdon'tremembermuchoftheceremony.IdorememberFr.Dunstangivingmeaslugofwhiskytosustainme!Afterthereception-whicheveryonetellsme

wasdelightfulandthatIevenmadeatoast-weweredriventothetrainstationtocatchatraintoLondon,whereIhadreservedaroomattheSavoyHotel.AfterboardingthetrainIcollapsedinanAdmiral'sprivatecompartment.HewasquiteirritateduntilhefoundoutthatIwasillandthatwehadjustbeenmarried.Hebecamequitehelpfulandevenmanagedtosecureataxiforus-analmostimpossiblefeatinthosewartimedays.

WesignedinattheSavoyandwereassignedaroom,althoughtheclerklookeddubious.OnceintheroomIcrashedonthebed,hadJoanbringmethephoneandcalledalocalUSliaisonofficer.Hecamein,lookingdaggersatJoan,untilweexplainedthatwewerenewlywedswithabigproblem.ThenextthingIknewIwasbeingcartedoutofthehotelthroughabackentrancetoanearbyBritishhospital.Afterafour-daystay,duringwhichtimeIwasabletomakeoneshortvisittotheSavoy,IwasreleasedandhitchedanotherplaneridetoPrestwick,Scotland,andthenbacktoSousse.Analtogetherunsatisfactoryhoneymoon!AloneattheSavoy,Joanhadaninterestingtime.Thefirst

nighttherewasanair-raidwarningandshewasscaredstiffbutwasassuredbyoldtimersthattherewasnothingtoworryabout.Shecalledhermother,whocameforonenightandthenhercousinvisitedforacoupleofnights.

AftermyassignmentinSousse,IwasmovedtoSicily,whereIbecamethecommanderofavery,verysmallcontingentatGela.Idon'tremembermanyofthedetails,butafriendofminehadstolenaP-38fromTunisandaskedmeiflwouldliketohavetheairplane.IagreedandtherebygotmyselfafewhoursinaP-38.UnfortunatelyageneralbackinAlgiersfoundoutIhaditandtookitbackforhisownuse.Heforgothisoilshutters;crashlandedtheplaneandwascapturedbytheArabsandheldforaweek.Thatmademeveryhappy.

FromGelaImovedtoCataniainSicily,rightatthebaseofMountAetna,andacquiredahousethathadbeenevacuateduponourarrival.Iriggeduptheelectricityandmovedinwithseveralotherofficers.DuringmyflyingtripsIhadacquiredaparachutist'smotor-cycle-avery,verysmallmotor-

scooter-andusedthisfortravellingfrommyworktothemesshall,etc.,whichcausedalotofconsternationamongtheSiciliannatives.

February1944.ThewarwaswindingdownintheMediterraneanareasoImanagedtogettransferredbacktoEngland.IhitchedarideonaC-47andarrivedattheHeadquartersoftheNinthAirForce,nearAscot,onewintryafternoon.Joan'slandladywasalittleanti-Americanandwouldn'tletmestayinJoan'sroom.Wefinallyrentedanoldcircuscaravan(abrokendowntrailer!),whichwassittingrightinthemiddleofanextremelymuddyfield.Wehadjustretiredforthenightwhenweheardtheominoussoundofairraidsirens.Soonthehowlingwasjoinedbythesharpack-ackofanti-aircraftguns.Thelittlecaravanwasshakenbytheanti-aircraftfireandlaterwefoundthattheshakinghaddislodgedthesmallheaterandwewerealmostkilledbycarbonmonoxide.Inthemeantime,afterIhadfinallydroppedofftosleep,Iwasrudelyawakenedbyacowmooingrightnexttomyear,throughthethinpartition.

Needlesstosay,welookedfornewquartersandmanagedtofindroomsinthehomeoftheKing'sestatemanager,adourScotsnamedFindlay.Ourcaravanairraidwasthelastbymannedplanesbutitwasn'tlongbeforetheGermansbegansendingV-1sandV-2sacrosstheChannel.TheV-1wasanunmannedplanecarryingalargebomb.

Whentheenginequittheplanedivedtoearth.Extremelynerve-wracking.TheV-2wasarocket,aprecursortoourspacemissions-alargebombrocketedintospacefromitspadinFrance.MostBritishcitizenstookthesenewthreatsinstridebutthereweremanyuncomfortablemoments.


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WhilewelivedwiththeFindlaysIhadachancetodosomepheasanthuntingontheSunninghillEstate.ThiswasoneofthemanyestatesownedbytheRoyalFamily.ThemansionandoutbuildingshadbeenturnedovertotheU.S.9thAirForceforthedurationofthewar.

DuringthisperiodIworkedatUxbridge,theheadquartersoftheBritishFighterCommand.IwasassignedasMovementLiaisonOfficerforalltheU.S.AirForce.TheMovementLiaisonOfficer'sjobwastoidentifyfriendlyandnon-friendlyaircraft.Wehadanumberofradarstationstomakethese

identifications.IstayedatUxbridgeuntilactuallytheendofthewar.Ididn'thaveanawfullottodosincetherewerenoenemyaircrafttoidentify.However,therewerealotofaircraftflyingbetweenLondonandParisandIgottogetherwiththeBritishAirMinistryandwedevisedsomeairtrafficrulestokeeptheaircraftfromhittingoneanotherandthatdevelopedintoairwaysbetweenLondon,ParisandBrussels.WebeganestablishinganetworkofairwaysusingAACSsoineffectIwasinchargeofdevelopingtheairwayssysteminEuropewiththeBritishAirMinistry.

WhileIwasworkingatUxbridgeandtheAirMinistry,JoanandIlivedinvariousplaces.DuringtheV-2attackswehadaroominLondon.OnenightwhenJoanhadgonetoNewburytoseehermother,Iwasawakenedbyabrilliantflashandsatup-theconcussionknockedmedownonthebedandIlaypetrified,wonderingwhathadhappened.Atthattimethegovernmenthadn'tadmittedthattherewererocketattacks.WedecidedthatJoanshouldstayinNewburyforthetimebeing.ShewassixmonthspregnantwithJeff,ourfirst-born.IstayedinLondonandtookthetraintoNewburyasoften

asIcould.JeffwasborninJanuary1945,inaNewbury"nursing-home",ahealthy7'8"baby.Wehadvariousadventuresfindingaccommodationsthatwouldtakeababy,andeventuallyrentedacountryhomecompletewithmaidandgardener-oneofourmoreaffluentperiods!

InFebruary1946,JoanandIwenttoIrelandwhereIwasaparticipantinaninternationalconferenceregardingairways,controlcentersandlandingrights.TheconferencewascalledPICAO(ProvisionalInternationalCivilAircraftOrganization).IwasacceptedandfetedbytheIrishbutJoanwasn'tsowarmlyreceived.However,IdidmanagetobuyherafurcoatandbringitbacktoEnglandwithoutpayingduty,muchtotheirritationontheCustomsofficials.

InMarch1946,IreceivedmyorderstoreturntotheUnitedStates,afteralmostfouryearsoverseasservice.JoandecidedtotravelononeofthetoutedBrideShips,whileIwouldflybackandmeetherinChicago.TheBrideShipturnedouttobeamajordisasterforJoanandJeffrey.Severalbabieshad

diedontheQueenMary,thevesselthatsailedaheadoftheirs,soIwiredtheshipthatIwouldmeetJoaninNewYorkinsteadofChicago.FromtherewewentbytraintoChicago.AfterafewdayswithmyparentswedrovetoGwinn,Michigan,andspentsometimerecoveringfromaratherharrowingexperience.

MyfirstassignmentintheU.S.wasatScottField,Illinois,wereIwasmadeAssistantOperationsOfficer,andputinchargeoftheTechnicalTrainingSchool,whichtaughtelectronictechnicians.Thistourwasratheruneventful.JohnwasborninOctober,anotherhealthyboy.AtthattimetherewasarequestforofficerstomanthenewAirForceROTCprograms.IvolunteeredandeventhoughIlackedacollegedegree,wasacceptedasacandidate.ItookthetrainingandwasassignedtoNotreDameUniversity,inSouthBend,Indiana.NotreDamereallyhadn'taskedtohaveanROTCunitbutIwastransferredtoSouthBendandhadtoconvinceFr.CavanaughthattheuniversityreallyshouldhaveanAirForceprogramtomatchtheNavalROTCprogramtheyalreadyhad.

Irantheprogramforthenextthreeyears.Weboughtoneofthenewpre-fabricatedhomesfor$9,000andenjoyedlifeinacollegetown.AfterPatriciawasborninMarch1948,wemovedintoabiggerhousewhichIbelievecost$16,000.PhilipwasborninSeptember1949.BothchildrenwereactuallyborninBattleCreek,Michigan.

In1950theAirForcewascuttingbackduetoanausterityprogramandIwasrelievedfromactiveduty.TheAirForcetriedtoreleasemeinthemiddleofasemesterbuttheUniversityraisedsuchafussIwaskeptonuntiltheendoftheperiod.Iappliedforapermanentrankandwasgiventhatofmastersergeant.IwasassignedtoWrightPattersonAirfieldinDayton,Ohio,andworkedinthe


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TelemeteringLaboratory:Telemeteringwasusedtotransmitmessagesbetweenmissilesandagroundstation.

TheKoreanWarbrokeoutinlate1950andbeforelongeffortswerebeingmadetogetmebackonactiveduty.CatherineRose,ourfifthchild,wasbornatWrightPattersonBaseHospital,thedaughterofamastersergeant,justbeforeIwasreinstatedasalieutenantcolonelonflyingstatus.Asaconsequence,Iwasputoneverypilotlevyfordutytoflylow-levelattackaircraftinKorea.Imanaged

tokeepmyjobasChiefoftheMechanicalBranchoftheEquipmentLaboratoryuntilMarch1954.Thejobentailedresearchanddevelopmentofaircraftair-conditioningsystemsandice-removalequipment.IbelieveIhadaboutfortyengineersworkingformebeforeIwasreassigned.ButsinceIdidn'thaveadegreeandwasapilot,whenalevycameupforJapaninsteadofKoreaIdecidedtomakethebestofitandaccepttheassignment.

Robert,ourfourthsonandsixthchild,wasbornatWrightPattersonBaseHospitalonJuly28,1953,anotherhealthybaby.

InMarch1954,IreceivedordersforJapan.Thetourwassupposedtobefortwoyears,unaccompanied,sowedecidedthatJoanwouldremaininDaytonwiththefamily.However,afterthreemonthsofbachelorlifeIdecidedtooptforathree-yeartourofdutyandbeganlookingforaJapanesehouseinFukuoka,nearItazukeAirBase.JoanputourDaytonhouseonthemarketandstartedpacking.Ibelievethatthathousesoldfor$18,000.InJuneIflewtoDaytoninorderto

accompanythefamilytotheirnewhome.WepackedeveryoneinouroldPontiaccarandtravelledacrosscountry,stoppinginGwinn,Michigan,toseemyparents,andthenontoSeattle,whereweboardedamilitarytransportshiptoFukuoka,Japan,ontheIslandofKyushu.ThejourneywasrelativelyuneventfulexceptthatJoanandallthechildrenpickedupsomekindofvirusandIhadtoactasnurseforacoupleofdays.

OuroffbaseJapanesehousewasrightnextdoortothezooandthechildrengottoknowallthekeepersandanimals.Itwasawonderfulassignmentapartfromafewinconveniences.Wehadamaid,Frances,whomanagedtohavesomeveryinterestingexperiences.ShewasshackingupwithsomeAmericansoldierswhowerestationedonthehillbehindourhouse.JoanwaspregnantwithVirginiaatthetimeandthemorningshewentintolabortwoOSIofficerscametothehousetoinquireaboutFrancesandhermachinations.WewerequiteshockedbuthadnooptionbuttofireFrancesandhirealovelyyoungwomannamedKioka-san,whoremainedwithusuntilwereturned

totheStates.VirginiawasbornonApril13,1955,anotherbeautifulbabysowenowhadfoursonsandthreedaughters.

WhileIwaswiththe527thAircraftControlandWarningSquadronIhelpedoverseetheoperationofradarsitesintheSeaofJapan.MostofthesesiteswerereachableonlybyboatsoIhadafairamountofexperiencebeingatseaforshortperiods.

InJuly1955,Iwasassignedtothe6135thSupportSquadroninMiho,ontheIslandofHonshu.SinceIwastherankingofficerItookoverasBaseCommander,muchtothedistressoftheActingBaseCommander,whohadtovacatetheCommander'shouse.AtthetimewewerenotauthorizedtoflyfamiliesonUSplanes,soIarrangedtoflyinaJapaneseC46planeassignedtoMiho.Thewholefamily,includingournewmaidandalsoourcatleftfromItazukeandarrivedsafelyatMiho.Everyone,thatwas,exceptforthecat,wholeaptfromtheplanethemomentthedoorwasopenedandwasneverseenagain.

AtthattimeMihowasbeingusedasatrainingbaseforJapanesepilotsonC-46planes.Itwasrumoredthatthebasewasphasingoutandnoonewasdoinganythingtokeepitgoing.Itwasachallenge,butImanagedtogettheofficersandenlistedmenmotivatedandreceivedcommendationsfromhigherheadquartersformyefforts.OneofmyhigherprioritieswastoimprovethemethodforfamiliestoobtainfoodfromtheCommissaryinTokyo.Previously,familieshadtoorderfoodaweekaheadoftimeanditwasbroughtinbytrain.Ihadacommissarybuiltonthebase,whichhadnewstockandattractedmanypatronsfrombasesalloverJapan.Anotherprojectwastoconvertafiresumpintoanattractiveswimmingpool.Thiscausedconsternationfrominspectingveterinarianswhofinallyapprovedmychlorinatingmethods.Stillanotherofmyaccomplishmentswasto


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constructafour-holegolfcourseonanemptyfield.MoraleimprovedbutmypopularitywasnothighbecauseIwasahardtaskmaster-forinstancewhentheofficersclubstartedlosingmoneytheboardofgovernorsdecidedtoraisethepriceofdrinksfrom15centsto20cents.Afterreadingtheirreport,beforeapprovalIchangedtherecommendationfordrinkstogofor10cents.Theclubimmediatelyattractedmorecustomerswhoplayedtheslotmachinesandusedthediningfacilitiesmuchmore-profitsimproved!Onemorepatonmyback-themovietheatreconsistedofagymnasiumanda

35mmprojector-soIhadmyspecialservicesofficergotoTokyoandobtainapprovalforacinemascopetheatrewithwidescreenandnewcomfortableseats.TheAirBasewasnowapleasantplaceinwhichthefamiliescouldlive.

WhileIwasbusyrunningthebase,Joanmanagedtogivebirthtoyetanotherbaby,Elizabeth,whowasborninNagoyasincetheMihobasedoctorwasadermatologistanddidn'twanttheresponsibilityofdeliveringtheBaseCommander'soffspring.

BeforeIleavethisphaseofmylifeIwouldliketorecallsomeofthememorableextra-curricularactivities,i.e.MyvisitstoMatsuewiththemayorandmyobtainingaphotographicreconnaissancerunofthecitywithseveralhundredpicturestaken-(amosaic).Thecityfatherswereecstatic!MyvisittotheJASDFHeadquartersinTokyotoreceiveacommendationfromtheChiefofStaff,GeneralSanagi;theinvitationfromtheMayorofMatsue,asagoingawaypresent,aweekatanislandresortforJoanandmewherethelargeheatedpool(bath)evacuateditsnakedJapaneseoccupantswhen

JoanandIappearedinbathingsuits;ourvisitstotheGovernorofthePrefecture(State);anF-94planethatlandedinthewaterandmyarrangementstohavetheplanepulledoutofthewaterbyaJapanesecraneanddiver(for$80.00).OurAirForcewastwodayslatesendinganaircraftwithairbagstofloatthesunkencraft...theywereangrywhentheyfoundthejobcompleted;thearrivalof250unexpectedguestswhenaC-124lostapropellerandhadtomakeanemergencylanding-wehadpeoplesleepingonthefloorsalloverthebasethatnightthe"visitors"cleanedouttheBaseExchangeandmostofthecommissary;flyingwithColonelHamono,whoseemedtohaveapermanentsushi(rawfish)breath.

Wehostedthecaptainandcrewofadry-dockedaircraftcarrierforafewweekswhilethevesselwasbeingre-fitted.Asaresult,afewofficersandairmenandIwereinvitedtogoaboardthecarrierduringitsshakedowncruise.Sincethecaptainwasonthebridgethewholeweek,Iwasinvitedtostayinhisquarters(whatatreat!).Ialsoflewafewtimesandfoundtheexperienceofcatapulttakeoffandhooklandingquiteexciting

Sincemytourofdutywasabouttoterminate,withJoan'sapproval,IrequestedanassignmentinEngland.SosomejokesterinWashingtonassignedmetoEnglandAirForceBaseinAlexandria,Louisiana.IbrokethenewstoJoanwhenshewasinthehospitalinNagoyaandthethoughtofgoingbacktotheStateswithoutamaidandagardenerquiteterrifiedher.

(OursonJohnvisitedMihoAirBasein1996-noonespokeEnglishbuthediscoveredapictureinthemuseumofJoanandmeandtheJapanese.)

Atlastwewerehomewardbound.IflewthewholefamilytoTokyowherewespentacoupleofdaysandthenweboardedacommercialflighttoSanFrancisco,occupyingthewholefirstclasscompartmentwithoureightchildren,includingathreemontholdbaby..

FromSanFranciscoweflewtoTexas,whereeveryoneseemedtohavelongfaces.WeweresousedtotheJapanese!WehadtotakeabusfromNewOrleanstoAlexandria,La.(EnglandAirForceBase).We

discoveredtherewasstillsegregationatthattimeinthesouthand,althoughPatriciatriedtogotothebackofthebus,shewaspushedforwardwiththewhitepassengers.WespentthenextfourmonthsintheEdmaryMotelandcontinuedtobeshockedbytheconditionsunderwhichtheblackpeoplehadtolive.

AtthenewbaseIwasassignedtoanAC&Wunitandcouldhavebeenthecommander,butwedecidedwedidn'tcareforLouisianaanditwasabouttimeIleftthemilitaryaftertwenty-twoyearsandfendedformyself.IofficiallyretiredinJuly1957.


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NOTE:Incaseanyoneisinterested,thefollowingisalistofaircraftIflewasfirstpilotoronlypilot:PT17,BT13&14;AT6,P-38,P-39,P-40,C-53,C-47,

BritishAnson,Hurricane,Spitfire-C-46

Co-pilotonAircraftCarrierfighter,JetTrainerT-33,BomberB-17,

CargoC-54andCargoC119...that'sall,folks!

JULY1957

AfterfourhotandsteamymonthsinthemotelweloadedthechildrenandallourpossessionsinthebrandnewPontiacstationwagonIhadorderedbeforeweleftJapan.IhadinterviewedforajobwiththeMartinCompanyinLittleton,Colorado,buthadnothadaconfirmation.However,whileIwasinDenverIhadboughtahouse,theonewestilllivein,soIdecidedtotakethebullbythehornsandmovetoLittleton.

IsecuredajobasanAssistantEngineerwiththeMartinCompanybutitdidn'ttakelongforoneoftheDivisionheadstofindoutIhadsomeadministrativeexperienceandIwaspulledupfirstofalltobeinchargeofExplosiveTestingoftheboltsthatheldthemissiledowntothepadarid,afterthat,JimElms,theDivisionHead,appointedmetobehisAdministrativeAssistant.IthentransferredtoOrganizationalPlanningandControlunderJackFriskinIndustrialRelationsandlaterbecamea

DivisionHeadinPlansandProgramsunderBillPurdy.Meanwhile,wehadaddedyetanotherbabytothefamily.DavidAndrewwasbornonJune6,1959,atFitzsimonsMilitaryHospital.Ahealthy,handsomebabyboy.

IstayedwiththeMartinCompanyforaboutsixyears,learningmoreandmoreaboutmissiles,whichIdidn'tthinkwoulddomeanygood.Idecidedtoleavethecompany,muchtotheconsternationofmyassociateswhothoughtthattheMartinCompanywasessentialtotheirlives.

Inanyevent,IdecidedtoentertheRealEstatebusinessandjoinedSkufkaandShelton,aLittletoncompany.IfoundoutIcouldn'tstandthatforverylongsoImovedovertoacompanycalledBrunoandfromtheretookovertheCommercialRealEstateforyetanothercompanyinDenver.Idon'trecallhowlongIstayedwiththem.

AfriendofminefromtheMartinCompanyaskedmetojoinhiminacompanycalledPartakeofthe

Rockies,whichdevelopedfranchises.GoldenWestSteakswasoneofthemandTacoAmigoanother.Ialsoranasalvageyard,amen'sclothingoutletandmanyotheroperations.Ilearnedalotaboutrunningarestaurant,whichisaverydifficultthingtodo.

ImovedtoMidwesternRealtyCompanyandwasputinchargeofalltheapartmentswhichhadbeenforeclosedbyMajesticSavingsandLoan.Ihadabout2,000unitstomanageandgetinshapetobesold.Istayedforaboutayearandmanagedtogetabout1,500unitsinshapeforclosing,anddecideditwastimetoleave.

FromthatjobIdecidedweweregoingtomovetoSanDiegobutbeforewecouldfinalizethearrangementstheSmallBusinessAdministrationofferedmeapositionasaTechnologyOfficer,supposedlytohelpsmallbusinessesacquirethetechnologythathadbeendevelopedbyNASA.Ididalittleofthatbutmostofmycontactswiththelocalcommunitywastohelpthemgetorganized.IwentaheadandorganizedtheRockyMountainPrecisionMetalWorkingAssociation,alittlebitunheardof

foracivilservanttoundertakeanythinglikethat.IlastedintheSBAforaboutfiveyearsandgotalittledisgustedwiththelackofenergyinthefederalservice,soIquitandwenttoworkforHenryStrausstodevelopamanagementgroup.Thisdidn'tworkoutverywellsoeventuallyIhelpedHenrybuilda$700,000officebuildinginDenver.Iultimatelyfiredthearchitectandfinishedthebuildingmyself.

Subsequentlyalargeoilcompany,PacificWest,boughtthebuildingandIparticipatedinthatsale,whichgavemealittleextracashinmypocket.PacificWestlaterbecameNORPAC.Theydecidedtoconstructa$12,000,000officebuildinginGreenwoodVillageandputmeinchargeofconstruction.Igotthebuildingfinishedandthenmanagedit,alsorentingoutspacetoothercompanies.Ultimately


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NORPACwentbelly-upandIfoundmyselfmanagingabuildingthathadalotoftenantsinit,whichwasn'tparticularlypleasingtomesoIdecidedtoleaveandretirefromthatparticularjob.NowIwasofficiallyretired.

DuringalltheseyearsJoanwasbusyathomeraisingnotnine,buttwelvechildren.LeonaFranceswasborninFebruary1961,ClaireMarieinAugust1962and,surprise,MarkAveryinApril1966.

ACTIVITIESAFTERRETIREMENTIhavebeeninterestedinmetaphysical,theologicalandphilosophicalmatterseversinceIwasayoungboy.IhadstudiedcomparativereligioninmyteensandCatholicDogmaticTheologyatNotreDamepriortobecomingaCatholicin1947.ItriedtoraisemychildrenalongwithJoanintheCatholicChristiantraditionbutitdidn'tseemtosticktoanyofthemaftertheylefthome,exceptperhapsMark.

In1979Ibecameinterestedinmeditationandalliedsubjects.ImetDanPerin,aninactiveUnityMinister,whotookmeunderhiswingandhelpedtoshrinkmyjudgmentalandwell-developedego.HespentacoupleofyearstrainingmeincounselingtechniquesandputmeontheBoardofDirectorsoftheWholeLifeLearningCenter.

DuringthistimeIattendedmanyphilosophicalandmetaphysicalmeetingsaswellaslisteningtoRamDaslecturesandtapes,readingbooksbyJaneRoberts(Seth),readingandtakingcoursesbyDa

FreeJohnandreadingbooksbyAlanWattsandbyleadingEasternteachers(Gurus).AttheWholeLifeLearningCenterIparticipatedintheusualalternativestudiessuchaspastliferegression,Rolfing,TarotCardsandothers.IattendedtheintensiveESTcourseandbecameatranscendentalmeditator.

DuringthistimeIbecameinvolvedwithcounselingsomeofthesearchersandunhappypeoplewhocrossedmypath-perhapsafewhundredoveradozenyears.Iamstillcounselingregularlywithtwoorthreepeopleaweek.Allseemtobedulyappreciative.

IhavestudiedChrist'steachingsbutwouldnotcallmyselfaChristianperse.I'vestudiedBuddhismbutamnotaBuddhist;I'vestudiedtheSufiteachingbutamnotoneofthem.Perhapsonecouldcallmeacombinationbecausethetruths,asIperceivethem,appeartoconverge.AtpresentIguessonecouldcallmeastudentofAdvaita-anancientschoolofthoughtbasedonthephilosophicalteachingoftheRishis,thepre-curserstoBuddhism,ShintoandHinduism.

Myprobationworkallowsmetocontinuemycounselinginaverylimitedwaybutitisstillverysatisfying.Icontinuemystudies!


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PalmerFamilyTree

Relationship Name Spouse Children

Father: Walter Edgar Palmer

Born in Canada.

Mother: Rose E. Palmer

Nee Stevens

Born in Arkansas

Brother: Walter (deceased) Violet Walter

Craig

Richard Ocie Kathy

(deceased)

Sister: Dorothy Lindgren

(Deceased)

Arthur Don

Nancy

Louise

Carol

Walter Palmer had 2 brothers and a sister. Have not maintained communication so dont know much about

children, grandchildren, etc.

Relationship Name Spouse Children

Brother Leonard W. Palmer m. Joan Hall Jeffrey

John

Patricia

Phillip

Catherine

Robert

Virginia

ElizabethDavid

Leona

Clair

Mark

Joan Palmer 1991


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Palmer/CortFamilyTree1585-1971

Husband Wife

WalterPalmerb.ca1585,Yetminster,Dorset,England

d.20Nov1661,Stonington,CT

JonahPalmerb.1620,England

d.26Jun1709,Rehoboth,PlymouthColony

Elisabeth Grissell

SamuelPalmerb.20Nov.1659,Rehoboth,PlymouthColony

Elizabeth Kingsley

EleazerPalmerb.10Jun1702,Rehoboth,PlymouthColony

d.4Feb1783,WindhamCountyCT

Mary Lilley

JosiahPalmerb.10Feb1744/45,Windham,CT Phebe Manning

AndrewPalmerb.19Oct1774,WindamCounty,CT

Rachel Tracy

d. 1852, Waterford Township,

WI

NelsonHoratioPalmerb.12Mar1819,ChenangoCounty,NY

Sarah N. Curtis [Curtiss]

b. 1837, New York

D. 26 Dec 1906, Racine County,WI

CharlesNelsonPalmerb.9Oct1854,WaterfordTownship,WI

d.12Jul1922

&EllaFrancesRobinsonb.1856,Wisconsin

d.7Dec1941

Claude Nelson Palmer

b. 9 Jan 1885, Wisconsin

d. Mar 1963, Illinois

& Edna Ruth Cort

b. 18 Sep 1886, Silver Reef,

UT

d. 28 Sep 1976, Illinois

Robert Palmer

b. 1877

Sara Ella Palmer

b. 1879

(Walter) Edgar Palmer

b. 1882

(Leonard Palmers father)


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HistoryofOurPalmerandCortAncestry

Isetouttoresearchmymother'sgenealogicalrootswhenIrealizedthatalthoughIknewquiteabitaboutmypaternalancestry(theFordsandSayleses,thankstothegenealogicalworkofmyuncleDickFord)Iknewnexttonothingaboutmymother'ssideofthefamily.Sincemymother,RuthPalmerFord,hadalreadydiedbythen,Icouldnotuseherforaresource,andIwasunabletolocate

mycousinDennisPalmer,whomaypossesssomefamilyrecords.DuringthecourseofmyresearchIhadfivemajorbreakthroughs:(l)Icontactedmymother'sfirstcousin,DorothyPalmerLindgren,whoatthattimewasdyingofcancer.ShekindlysentmewhatfamilyinformationaboutthePalmersshehad:transcriptionsofnewspaperobituaries;photocopiesofarticlesinWisconsinhistories;photocopiesoffamilyBiblepages;andafamilytreeapparentlyconstructedbyaprofessional.Thelast,unfortunately,turnedouttobelargelyinerror.ThereIwasstuckforquiteawhile.

(2)ThenthegenealogicalarchivesoftheChurchofLatterDaySaintscameonline.ThatwebsiteeventuallyenabledmetoworkbackwardfromtheLindgrenmaterialanumberofgenerations,allthewaytoWalterPalmer,theprogenitoronthiscontinent.

(3)ThroughthePalmerpageofGenForum(Genealogy.commessageboard)IlearnedoftheWalterpalmer.comwebsite.Thisisasuperbresourcethatgavemeagreatdealmoreinformation,whileconfirmingfactsIalreadyknew.WearedirectdescendantsofWalterPalmer,whoemigratedto

MassachusettsfromEnglandin1629.(4)ThroughAncestry.comIwasabletoaccessU.S.censusrecords.ThatgotmestartedondocumentingmyCortancestors-mymaternalgrandmother'speople.LDSandGenForumwerealsoinvaluable.ThroughacontactonthelatterIreceivedtheCortFamilygenealogywrittenbyRev.CyrusCortc.1868.SubsequenttohisoriginalmanuscriptCyrusCortupdatedhisgenealogy,addingmuchusefulinformationaboutJacobCort,mygreat-greatgrandfatherandhisfamily.ThisupdateIreceivedfromAnnStevens.

(5)In2005IstumbleduponaqueryonaCortGenForumwebsitewrittenbyAnnStevens.Wequicklyestablishedthatalthoughwehadneverheardofeachother,ourgrandmothersEdnaandCoraweresisters.ThroughAnn,andourresearchatthePresbyterianHistoricalSociety,IhavebeenabletodiscoveragreatdealabouttheCort/Bartlettsideofthefamily.

ThefollowingbiographyisfromtheWalterPalmerwebsite:

WalterPalmer(c1585-1661),probablythesonofWalterandElizabeth(Carter)Palmer,waslikelyborninthevillageofYetminster,Dorsetshire,Englandsometimearound1585.AlthoughhewasmarriedinEnglandandfatheredfivechildren,thenameofhisfirstwifeisunknown.

AsaSeparatistPuritan,inanefforttoseekreligiousfreedom,onApril5,1629,hesailedfromGravesend,England,onaboatcalled"FourSisters"-oneofsixships;theothersbeingtheTalbot,LyonsWhelp,GeorgeBonaventure,Lyon,andTheMayflower.

WalterarrivedinSalem,Massachusetts,onJuneof1629andsettledinCharlestown,Massachusetts,withhisfivechildrenandAbralunnPalmer,possiblyhisbrother.

OnSeptember28,1630therewasrecordeda"JurycalledtoholdaninquestonthebodyofAustineBratcher."Itfound"thatthestrokesgivenbyWalterPalmer,wereoccasionallythemeansofthedeathofAustinBratcher,andso tobemanslaughter.Mr.Palmermadehispersonalappearancethisday

(October19,1630)&standsbound,he&hissureties.tillthenextecourt."Atacourtsessionof"acourtofassistants,holdenatBoston,November9th1630"numerousmattersweretakenupanddisposedof,includingthetrialofWalterPalmeroneotheritemofinterest:"itisordered,thatRickDiffy,servanttoSr.RichardSaltonstall,shallbewhippedforhismisdemeanortowardhismaster.""AJuryimpanelfor

thetryallofWalterPalmer,concerningthedeathofAustinBratcher:Mr.EdmondLockwood,Rich:

Morris,Willm Rockewell,WillmBalston,ChristopherConant,WillmCheesebrough,WillmPhelpes,JohnPage,WillmGallard.JohnBalsheJohnHoskins,LaurenceLeach,/ThejuryfindesWalterPalmernotquiltyofmanslaughter,whereofheestoodeindicted, &soethecourtacquittshim. "TheaboveisthefirstdiscoveredreferencetoWilliamCbesebrougb,oneofWalter'sclosestfriends.


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WalterbecameveryprominentintheaffairsofCharlestown,publicofficeandislistedamongthefirstgroupofmenwhotooktheOathofFreemenonMay18,1631.Theoriginallistincluded,"Mr.RogerConant,JohnBalche,RalfeSprage,SimonHoyte,Rick:Sprage;Walt(Walter)Palmer,AbrahamPalmer,MrRich:Saltonstall,Rich:Stower,CzekiellRichardson,WmCheesebrough.WalterwasmarriedforasecondtimetoRebeccaShortofRoxburyonJune1,1633.TheyweremarriedinRoxburyChurch,ofwhichshewasamemberandRev.JohnEliotitsMinister.Shewasoneofthefirst

membersofhischurchuponherarrivalinAmericain1632.RoxburywasgenerallysettledbythepeoplefromEssexandHertfordshireundertheleadershipoftheRev.JohnEliotwhohadbeentheVicarofNazeing.ReverendEliot'srecordsoftheRoxburyFirstChurchstate:"RebeckahShort,amaidesrvant,shecameintheyeare1632andwasmarriedtoWalterPalmeraGodlymanofCharlestown

Church."RebeccawastogivebirthtosevenadditionalchildrengivingWalteratotaloftwelve.

In1635Walterwaselected.SelectmanofCharlestown,andin1636Constable.OnMarch26,1638hereceivedanadditionallandgrant"atruerecordofallsuchhousesandlandsasarepossesedbytheinhabitantsofCharlestown" --preparedbyAbrahamPalmerlistedthepossessionsofWalterPalmerasfollows:"Twoacresoflandintheeastfield,'buttingsouthonbackstreet, 'withadwellinghouseandanotheraptinances"fiveacresofarableland,milchcowcommonssixandaquarter."fouracres,more

orlessinthelifefield."eightacresofmeadowlyingintheMysticMarshes,"Fouracresofwoodlandin

theMysticField,"FiveacresofmeadowonthewestofMountProspect "Thirtyacresofwoodland."Eighty-sixacresoflandscituateinthewaterfield."OnMay13,1640acommitteewasrequiredtobe

appointedineverytowntoappraisealllivestock:.ThecommitteeforCharlestownwascomprisedof"Czechi:Rich'dson.&WalterPalmer.."

OnAugust24,1643.WalterPa1merandhisgoodfriendWilliamChesebrough,whosefortunescloselycoincidedduringtheirlivesleftCharlestownalongwithotherplantersand3startedanewsettlementataplaceknownas"Seacuncke"(BlackGoose).Hishomewaslocatedalongthe10MileRiverinanareacalledSowams.Theareawastobecomeindependentofotherorganizationsuntiltheycoulddecideonagovernment.Atameetingin1643,beforeadivisionoflandhadbeenmadeotherthanforhouse-lots,thoseattendingwererequiredindividuallytogivethevalueoftheirestates,inorderthattheallotmentsoflandmightbemadeaccordingly.Will.Cheesebroughwaslisted450poundsandWalterPalmerat419pounds.

WalterwasoneoftheninemembersoftheFirstBoardofSelectmenchosenDecember91644.OnthesecondandninthdayofJune,1645WalterPalmerandWilliamCheseboroughwereonlists

concerninglotstobedrawnfordivisionsofland.Walter'snameseemedtoappearineverygroupselectedforanypurpose,whichseemstoindicatehishighstandinginthecommunity.

May26,1647ChosencommitteefortheCourt

May19,1651ChosenGrandJuryman

May24,1652ChosenConstable

OnJune4,1645SeacunckewasrenamedAntientRehoboth(atownbytheriver)andassigneditselftoThePlymouthColony.RichardWrightwasthefirstDeputytobeelectedtorepresentRehobothtotheCourtatPlymouth,howeverhehadbeenastrongadvocateoftheMassachusettsBayColonyratherthanthePlymouthColony,andrefusedtoacknowledgethatthefinaldecisionwasinfavorofthePlymouthColony.AdmittedaFreemanonOctober28,1645,WalterPalmerwasimmediatelysworninasaDeputyinWright'splace.

WalteralongwithseveralotherswerealsodissatisfiedoverthetownspeoplevotingtoconsolidatewithPlymouthColony.HewasinfavorofanalliancewithTheMassachusettsBayColony.Priorto1653JohnWinthropJr.whohadbeengrantedlandinthatpartofConnecticutknownasThePequotCountrybyTheMassachusettsBayColonyurgedWilliamChesebrough,alsooneofthosedissatisfiedwithThePlymouthColonytosettleinNewLondon.Uponexamination,WilliamChesebroughpreferredthatpartofthecountryknownbytheIndiansasWequetequoc.Heappliedforagrantof300acreswhichwassoonincreasedto2300acres.HetheninducedWalterPalmerandWalter'ssoninlawThomasMinortojoinhimthere.WalterboughtlandontheEastBankofWequetequocCove.It


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wouldappearthatthelandwasoriginallyplacedinthenameofThomasMinorandlatervestedinthenameofWalterPalmer.

InAugustof1652ThomasMinorbuiltahouseforhisfather-in-lawWalterPalmerontheoppositesideofWequetequocCovefromWilliamChesebrough.In1653Walter,RebeccaandchildrenElizabeth,Hannah,Elihu,Nahemiah,Moses,Benjamin,GershomandRebeccamovedfromAntientRehobothtotheirnewhome.ThomasMinorandhiswife(Walter'soldestdaughter)Gracewitheight

childrenoftheirownsettlednearbyinahousebuiltbyThomasinMistuxet(Quiambaug).

InthefollowingyearsWalteracquiredadditionallandsouthofhislocationandontheeasternslopeofTogwank,andonbothsidesofAnguillaBrooktotalingabout1200acres.OnFebruary25,1654Walterwasgranted100acresofuplandandalso100acresinandabout"Porkatush"(Pawcatuck).Thislandlaterbecamethatofhissons.

DuringthefirstfouryearsinWequetequockCove,Walterandhisfamilyhadtotravel15milesandacrosstwolargeriverstoNewLondontoattendchurch.OnSeptember1,1654thefirstpetitionoftheStoningtonsettlersforaseparatetownandchurchwasrefusedbytheGeneralCourtofConnecticut.OnMarch22,1657thefirstreligiousservicewasheldinStoningtoninthehomeofWalterPalmerwiththeReverendWilliamThompsonbeingtheminister.ReligiousserviceswerecontinuedinvarioushomesuntilMay13,1661whenameetinghousewaserected.

AfteralengthystrugglewithboththeConnecticutandMassachusettsGeneralCourts,thesettlerssucceededinachievinglocalgovernment.TheirfirsteffortswerethendevotedtoelectingtownofficersandtotheerectionofameetinghousewhichwasfirstusedinSeptemberof166I,justtwomonthsbeforeWalter'sdeath.

WalterwasoneofthefirstsettlerstoserveasConstableandonOctober19,1658wasappointed"toacommitteetoconducttheprudentialaffairs"alongwithfiveothers.The300-yearStoningtonCronologybyHaynesaptlydescribesWalterPalmerasthe"PatriarchofftheearlyStoningtonsettlers...(who)hadbeenprominentintheestablishmentofBoston,CharlestownandRehoboth,...a

vigorousgiant,6feet5inchestallWhenhesettledatSouthertown(Stonington)hewassixty-eightyears

old,olderthanmostoftheothersettlers."

WalterPalmerdiedinStoningtononNovember20,1661,andisburiedintheWequetequock

buryingground.Aroughwolfstone1about9feetinlengthcovershisgrave.Theinscriptionprobably

addedlaterreadsW.Palmer1585-1661."Thestoneliesinthemidstofalonglineofgravesofhischildrenandgrandchildren.

Nearbyisamonumenterectedinthememoryofthefourfoundersofthearea-WilliamChesebrough,ThomasMinor,ThomasStantonandWalterPalmer.RebeccaPalmerprobablydiedshortlybeforeJune51684.TheonlyknownrecordisthedivisionbysonsNehemiah,MosesandBenjaminofland

onthatdatewhich"ourfatherleftforourmothertodivide".2

ThefollowinginformationcomesfromthePalmerFamilyForumgenealogicalwebsite:

OneofthebestbooksaboutWalterandhisdescendantsis"WalterPalmerofCharlestown,Rehoboth,MassachusettsandStonington,CT"Compiled,Edited,TypedandPartlyResearchedbyDorisPalmerBuys."GroupsofPalmerFamilies"byLeavittand"PalmerFamiliesInAmerica"byHoraceWilbur

PalmerandotherscontainvaluableinformationaboutWalter'sdescendantsandafewothers.34

1 Awotfstone was a large granite slabplaced over a grave to keep wolves from digging up thebody.

2 Copyright 1991 Walter PalmerSociety

3 I have not consulted these wom.

4 Descendants of Walter Palmer eligible for membership in The Walter PalmerSociety,Inc. 812 Pendleton

Hill Road. North Stonington, CT 06359. For information, contact the Society. Marlene Wilkinson 6176


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Thefollowinginformation,asfarasAndrewPalmer,comespartlyfromtheChurchofLatterDaySaintsgenealogicalwebsite.TheLDSinformationisaugmentedbymaterialfromtheWalterPalmer

website.5

WearedescendantsofWalter'ssonJonahPalmer,whowasbornin1620inEngland,thefourthchildofWalterandhisfirstwife.AsachildJonahaccompaniedhisparentstotheNewWorldin1629,anddiedinRehoboth,PlymouthColony,on26June1709.HiswifewasElizabethGrissell.Forwhateverreason,JonahdidnotaccompanyhisfatheronthemovetoStonington.

Hewouldhavebeen33atthetimeofhisfather'sdepartureandprobablyownedhisownfarmanddidnotwishtopullupstakes.

Jonah'ssonSamuelPalmerwasbornon20Nov.1659inRehoboth.WithhiswifeElizabethKingsley,Samuelhad12children.Thefirstchild,John,diedininfancy.Thesecondson,anotherSamuelwasbornin1683andmarriedinWindhamCounty,Connecticut,in1707.SamueltheElder'syoungestchild,Eleazer,wasborn10June1702inRehoboth.Presumably,atsomepointbetweenEleazer'sbirthin1702andSamuel'smarriagein1707,thefamilymovedfromRebobothtoWindham.Samueldied18Nov.1743inWindham.

It'sinterestingtospeculateonthereasonsforSamuel'smovetoConnecticutfromMassachusetts.Probablythemostimportantwastoacquiremorelandforhishugefamily.Thefollowingis

informationaboutWindhamCounty:

Firstsettledinabout1686bydescendantsofNorwichmenwhoreceivedthelandasgrantsfromUncas'sonJoshua,theTown,namedfromWindhaminSussexCounty,wasincorporatedin1692.TheareainthevicinityofWillimanticwassettledtotakeadvantageoftheriver'swaterpowerforsawandgristmills.Inlateryears,thetownwasdominatedbythethreadandtextileindustry.ThetownwasknownworldwideasoneofthefinestmanufacturersofthreadoutsideofEnglandandwasaptly

namedtheThreadCity.6

PossiblySamuelorhisdescendantshadsomethingtodowiththelumberindustry.Here'smoreinformationaboutWindham:

IntheearlycommercebetweenthecoloniesofMassachusettsandConnecticutapopularrouteoverthelandwasthroughtheregionnowcoveredbyWindhamCounty.Remotefromtheseashoreand

possessingnonavigablelakesorriversitwasperfectlyreasonablethatthisterritoryshouldbeforatimeoverlooked,orratherthatitshouldbepassedbyasagoodlylandforthehome-seekersinanewworldtolocateupon.

Accessibilitybywaterwastothefirstsettlersanalmostabsolutelyessentialfeatureinanysitechosenbythemfortheplantingofalittlecolony.Butwemaywellimaginethatthefertilevalleysandbillsofthisbeautifulregion,andthepicturesqueattractionsofthefutureWindhamdidnotlongremainunnoticed.ThelandbecameknowntotheEnglishabouttheyear1635.When,aboutthattime,theearlycolonistsbegantotraversethehideousandtracklesswilderness,onthewayfromMassachusettstotheConnecticutriver,traditiontellsustheirencampmentforthenightwasonPinehillinAshford.Acrudetrack,calledtheConnecticutPathobliquelycrossingtheWabbaquassetcountry,becamethemainthoroughfareoftravelbetweenthetwoColonies.Hundredsoffamiliestoiledoverittonewhomesinthewilderness.ThefathersofHartfordandNewHaven,ministersandgovernors,captainsandcommissioners,governmentofficialsandlandspeculators,crossedand

Richard Wilson Drive, Millington. TN 38053-3934 or [email protected]

5 Re ancestors of Walter, the LDS website is incorrect.

6 From Town of Windham's webpage


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recrossedoveritCivilizationpassedtoregionsbeyondbutmadenoabidingplacehereformorethan

halfacentury.7

Samuel'ssonEleazerPalmer(1702-1783)marriedMaryLillie(1702-1768)in1723inWindham.Likehisfather,Eleazersired12children,givingthemsuchmemorablenamesasEliphalet,Zurviah,Jerusha,Mehitable,andTryphena.EleazerdiedinWindham4Feb.1783.

Eleazer'ssonJosiahPalmerwasborn10Feb.1744inWindhamandlikehisfatherbeforehim,wastheyoungestof12.In1770,inWindham,JosiahmarriedPhebeManning(b.1748).Their6childrenwereErastus,Andrew,Hannah,Elias,Oliver,andOrrin.JosiahappearedintheU.S.Censusof1790;hishouseholdincluded2whitemalesof16andupward(probablyErastusandAndrew),3freewhitemalesunder16(probablyElias,Oliver,andOrrin),4freewhitefemales,andnoslaves.Josiahisinthe1800censusalso,aswellastheonefor1810.It'sunknownwhenandwherehedied

Josiah'ssecondchildAndrewPalmer8wasborn19Oct.1774inWindham.HemarriedRachelTracy

inMansfield,TollandCounty,CTin1810.9TollandandWindhamCountiesarecontiguous.Rachael,

whowasborn22Aug.1781inNorwich,NewLondon,CT,wasthedaughterofJohnTracyandEsther

Pride.10SometimeaftertheirmarriageRachelandAndrewleftConnecticutforColumbus,Chenango

County,NewYork.AndrewwasthefirstinthedirectlineofdescenttoleaveWindhamCountyin

morethan100years.Hisfather-in-law,JohnTracy,hadprecededhimtoColumbusin1806andlocatedaboutamilewestofthecenteroftown,wherehewasengagedinfarminguntilhisdeath,Jan.

14,1820.11ItisinterestingtospeculatewhyAndrewleftConnecticutforNewYork.Depletedlandin

Connecticut?Feweropportunitiesthere?Declineinthefamilyfortunes?Itchyfeet?Inanycase,Andrewdidn'tstayinColumbus.HemayhavemovedtoIthacaatsomepoint(seebelow).

In1838heandhiswifeandchildrensettledinWaterfordTownship,RacineCounty,Wisconsin,

wherehewasafarmer.12AndrewandRachelhadfourchildren,Emiline,Catherine,John(b.

Columbus,ChenangoNY12Oct.1812)andNelsonHoratio.AnarticleonWalterCurtisPalmer,grandsonofAndrew,refersto:"thepaternalgrandfather,who,duringtheperiodofpioneerdevelopmentinWisconsin,establishedhishomeinthisstate,devotinghislifetogeneralagriculturalpursuitsuntilheestablishedhishomeinWaterford.wherehepassedawaywelladvancedinyears.

HisfamilyoftwosonsandtwodaughtersincludedNelsonH.Palmer..."13AtthetimeAndrewsettled

inWaterfordhewouldhavebeen64yearsold,ifthereportsareaccurate.It'sunknownwhenAndrewdied.RacheldiedinWaterford29Oct.1852.

NelsonHoratioPalmer14(1819-1899),AndrewandRachel'syoungestchild.wasborninChenango

County,NY,12March1819.It'stemptingtoimaginethathewasnamedafterAdmiralHoratioNelson,herooftheBattleofTrafalgar.Attheageof12,andfor7yearsthereafter,Nelsonwasemployedinacotton--orwoolen,accountsdiffer-factoryinIthaca,NewYork.IfNelsonhadtogotoworkinamillas

7 Connecticut GenWeb Project

8 The information from Andrew down to Claude comes in part from family records given to me by

Dorothy Palmer Lindgren. This is the point at which the Walter Palmer Society website becomes

inadequate and inaccurate.

9 CLDS date, but may have been earlier.

10 OneWorldTree

11 Coumbus NY history website

12Wisconsin, Its History and Its People,Vol. III, p. 445, 1924.13Racine. Belle City of the Lakes..Vol II p. 291, 1916.14 Principal source: Obituary,Racine Daily Journal, November 29, 1899.


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achild.Andrewcan'thavebeendoingwell.Ithacaissome75mileswestofColumbus.ItwouldbeinterestingtoknowwhethertheboylivedinIthacaonhisown,perhapsinaboardinghouseformillworkers,orwhetherthefamilyhadmovedthere.FailingeyesightcausedNelsontoquitthemill.ThephotoisastereopticonviewofHalsey'smillanddaminIthaca,laterthantheperiodNelsonworkedinthetown,butevocativeoftheatmosphere.Creekspoweredthemills.

In1838attheageof19NelsonmovedwithhisparentstothevillageofWaterford(thenpartofthe

townofRochester)15inRacineCounty,Wisconsin.Atfirsthewasamillwrightandcarpenter.On16

June1847hemarriedEstherJones,whodiedwithinafewmonths.InthesameyearhebecameapartnerinageneralstorewithJonesandSproat,anassociationthatlastedfor3years.In1850heembarkedonamillingbusinesswithCharlesMoe.InthatyearbewastheenumeratorfortheU.S.CensusinRochester,andhelistedhimselfasamerchantNelsonwassingle,livinginaboardinghouse.On5Sept.1853,hemarriedSarahN.Curtis(Curtiss),whowasbut16atthetime,lessthanhalfhisage.

Inthe1860censushewasworkingasaprisonguardinthenew16WisconsinStatePrisonat

Waupun,livinginthesouthward;withhimwerehiswifeandchildrenCharlesandWalter.Hisobituaryclaimsthat"from1860to1861hewastheWardenoftheStatePrison,also1864-67,"butthatmayhavebeenstretchingthetruthabit;bewasprobablysimplyaguardpartorallofthattime.From1867to1882behadageneralstorewithMr.Moe.Inthe1870censushewasadrygoodsmerchantlivingnextdoortohispartner,CharlesMoe.Sincetheneighborswereacarriagemaker,abootandshoemaker,2jewelers,2hotelkeepers,andasaloonkeeper,it'sreasonabletosupposethatthefamilieswerelivingrightintownnexttotheirbusinesses.Bynowtherewerefivechildreninthehousehold.AtvarioustimesNelsonwasachairmanoftheTownBoardofSupervisors,wastheschoolboardcleric.andservedanumberoftermsasmemberoftheBoardofSupervisors.HewasamemberoftheCongregationalChurch.NelsonandSarahhad5daughtersand2sons,theeldestofwhomwasCharlesNelsonPalmer.NelsonH.died28November1899.Hiswifedied26Dec.1906.

AdaptedfromtheWaterfordwebsite:

Waterford,thelargestandmostprosperousvillageinwesternRacinecounty,Wisconsin,islocatedintheFoxrivervalley,thecenterofarichfarmingcommunity.TheWaterfordareasawitsfirstnon-Indiansettlersinthemid-1830's.Inthefallof1836LeviBarnesandSamuelChapmancameonhorsebackfromtheEastandmadeclaimtothegreaterpartofwhatisnowWaterford.TheirfamiliesandothersettlerssoonfollowedandinashorttimeathrivingvillagehadgrownuponthebanksoftheFox.

In1838LeviBarnesandSamuelChapmanobtainedwaterpowerrightstotheFoxRiver.Theybuiltadamandlaterasawmillandflourmill.ThiswasthenucleusofthevillageofWaterford.Inabout1845surveyingwasdone.TheEnglish-speakingsettlerslivedonthewestsideoftheriverandtheGerman-speakingsettlerslivedontheeast.

Charle.NelsonPalmer(1854-1922)wasborninWaterfordonOctober9,1854.Hebecameageneralpracticephysician.HemarriedEllaFrancesRobinsonon28Oct.,1876.

ThefollowinginformationaboutEllawasteasedoutofU.S.CensusreportsandOneWorldTreepostings:EUawasborninRacineCounty,Wisconsin,on22Sept.1856,thedaughterofCarolineStarkeyandNewellRobinson.Carolinewasborn21Dec.1830inRastrick,Yorkshire,England.In

1841herfamilyemigratedtotheU.S,settlinginRochester,Wisconsin.Caroline'sfather,JosephStarkey,(2June1795to3Oct1846)wasprobablyafarmer.HermotherwasMaryBrook(19May1797to25March1881).In1854CarolinemarriedNewellRobinson.Hewasthesonofaphysician,

15 Waterford was separated from the town of Rochester, of which it was originally a part, in 1847.

However, the 1850 U.S. Census did not make that distinction; everybody was still living in Rochester,

so far as the census was concerned.

16 Construction begun 1851


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DanielRobinson,andhadbeenborninVermont.c.1825.Inthe1850U.S.CensusNewell'soccupationwaslistedas"Daguerian,"apersonwhotookDaguerreotypes,anearlyformofphotography.Hisyoungerbrotherwasalsoinvolvedinthebusiness.Asearchofthe1850censusforRochesterrevealsthatnootherdaguerianswereinthetownatthetime;thebrothersmayhavehadastudioorbeenitinerantphotographers.NelsonHoratioPalmerwastheenumeratorforRochesterinthatcensus;onewonderswhetherbeguessedthatintheRobinsonshewasinterviewingfuturein-laws.Caroline

died17Nov.1859andherhusbandmustalsohavediedaroundthattime,becauseinthe1860censusElla,attheageof4,waslivingwithawealthyfarmerIraA.RiceandhiswifeAurilla.It'spossiblethattheRiceswererelativesorfriendsoftheRobinsons;theytoohadcomefromVermont.Ella'sbrotherCharles,attheageof5,waslivingwithhismaternalgrandmother,MaryStarkey,andhisUncleGeorge,acarpenter.Allthreeproperties--theDanielRobinsons';theIraRices';andtheStarkeys'-wereincloseproximity:theorphanedEUaandCharlesatleasthadtheadvantageofanearbyextendedfamily.

In1876EllaandCharlesNelsonweremarried;herhusbandwasorbecameaphysician.likehergrandfather.TheirfourchildrenwereRobert(b.1877);SarahElla(b.1879);[Walter]Edgar(b.

1882)17;andClaudeNelson(b.1885).Atsomepointbefore1900,thefamilymovedtoIllinois.

Cicerowastobecomefamousinthe1920,becauseofbootleggingduringProhibition.

Alphonse"ScarfaceAI"CaponewasthemostnotoriousgangleaderinthewitheadquartersinCicero,

butprobablyhispathdidnotcrossCharlesandElla's.CharlesdiedJuly12,1922.ElladiedDecember7,1941.Thephotoisanunlabeledonehandeddowntomebymymother.Myhunchisthatit'sCharles,Ella,andtheirgrandsonCortPalmer,butIhavenocorroboration.

ClaudeNelsonPalmer(1885-1963),youngestchildofCharlesandElla,wasborninWisconsin9January1885.Asasmal1boyhemovedwithhisfamilytoCicero,IL.ApparentlyhemethiswifeEdnaRuthCortintheChicagoarea.OnApril19,1910,aftertheyweremarried,theywerelivingwithhis

parentsinCiceroandhewasworkingasasalesmanforatypewritercompany.18ClaudeandEdna's

firstchild,RuthLouise,wasbornfourmonthslaterwhenClaudewas25andEdna24.Inthe1920censusClaudeandEdnawerelivinginSanRafaelMarinCounty,California,withtheirchildrenRuth(9)andCort(8).Claude'soccupationwassalesmanforabrokeragefirm.Inthe1930U.S.censusClaudeandhisfamilywerelivinginWhitePlains,NewYork,wherebewasworkinginadvertising.Ruthwas19andasalesgirlinadrygoodsstore;Cortwas18andworkinginnewspaperadvertising.

Thethirdchild,Donald,was9atthetimeofthecensus.Aninterestingaspectofthe1930censusisthatthePalmers'goodfriends,.RobandLucyHendersonandtheir15-year-olddaughterJoy,werelivingat#278ChattertonParkwayinWhitePlains.Nextdoorat#290wastheJanofffamily:Benjamin,hiswifePearlandtheir18-year-olddaughterMildred.MildredJanoffandCortPalmerlatermarried:theirfirstchildDenniswasborninMay,1938.

Accordingtothe1930censusClaudewasaveteranofWWI;snapshotsinafamilyalbumshowhiminamilitaryuniform,butIdon'tknowwhathisdutieswere.Hewouldhavebeen33in1918.PerhapshewasanofficerintheIllinoisNationalGuard.InthelateryearsofhisworkingcareerClaudewasanemployeeofUnitedFruitCompany;heandEdnaandDonlivedinanapartmentinSilverSpring,Maryland.AfterClaude'sretirementhewasengagedinvariouslibertarianactivitiesintheWashington.D.C.area.suchasasuccessfulcampaigntoridthemetropolitanareabusesofcannedmusicandanunsuccessfulcampaigntobanthefluoridationofdrinkingwater.Hewasproudofthefactthathewasambidextrous.HediedinMarch.1963.

SeeCortFamily,below.

17 Edgar married Rose Eugenia Penny Stevens Rials. Theirchildren were Dorothy [Lindgren], Richard,

Walter, and Leonard. In 1948 Edgar published a book of poetry called "Golo", the story of a native

African raised among baboons who becomes the leader of the colonization of Liberia.

18 An interesting side note fordescendants of Claude Palmer and Eugene Ford; in that year Eugene wasmaking his living as a designer of business machines.


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RuthLouisePalmer(Ford)(1910-1973)wasborn11Aug.1910,inCicero,Illinois.AsachildshespenthersummersinHollister,Missouri,withhermaternalgrandmother,NellieBartlettCort.ThereshelearnedtodriveaModelTattheageof12.AfterhighschoolRuthbrieflyattendedtheChicagoArtInstitute.Shewasanaccomplishedstilllifewatercolorist,butartwasonlyahobby,andshealwaysregrettedthatshewasnotabletoattendcollege,becauseoftheDepression.InsteadsheworkedasaclerkinadrygoodsstoreandlaterasasecretaryforReader'sDigestinWhitePlains,NY,

whereherfamilywasliving.SheranformayorofWhitePlains,NewYork.ontheSocialistticket,butofcoursewasnotelected.On29May1937shemarriedJohnHerbertFord(14June1908-Jan.1987),whomshehadmetataSocialistconvention.WhentheirfirstbabywassixmonthsoldRuthandJackmovedfromanapartmentinWhitePlainstoCresskill,avillageinsuburbanNJ.Theypaid$5000.fortheirnewlittlehousewithabackyardandagarage.Their3childrenwereElainePalmerFord(12Dec.,1939),JonathanPalmerFord(260ct1942-1Aug.1999)andThomasPalmerFord(8April1947).RuthwaspresidentoftheCresskill,NewJersey,PTAandservedforyearsontheBoardofEducationinthattown.ShewasappointedtotheStateBoardofEducationbythegovernorofN.J.andwasservingonthatboardatthetimeofherdeath.ShediedofLeukemia16April,1973.JohnForddiedbyhisownhandinJanuary,1987.

CartN.Palmer(1911-1976)wasborn25Nov.1911inIllinois.HeandhiswifeMildredJanoffhadthreechildren:Dennis,CarolandJan.Themarriagecodedindivorcedecadeslater.CartservedinJapanduringtheOccupationfollowingWWII.Likehisfather,heinadvertising.Hedied1Feb.,1976.

DonaldPalmer(b.1921inIllinois),whonevermarried,servedintheAirForceduringWWII,stationedintheAleutianIslands.HeworkedforUnitedAirlines.Hediedofcancerinthelate1960sorearly'70s.


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JoanHallPalmer

1945


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JoansMemoirs

Part11920-1936

Iwasbornintheyear1920,ayearwhenIrelandwasinitsusualturmoil.MysisterSheilahadbeenborninmyAuntNellshouseinPlymouth,England,twoyearsearlier,butmymotherchosetohave

meinalargedowntownhospitalinDublin.MyAuntSue,whowasexpectingaboutthesametime,hadtoberushedtothehospitalonafiretruckbecauseofallthecommotiongoingon,butnothingsoexcitinghappenedtomymother.IdidntmeetmyfatheruntilIwasaboutayearoldandittookmesometimetobondwithhim.HewouldcarrymearoundbutIalwayshadtohaveonehandclutchingmymother.

MygrandfatherEdmondAvery-mymothersfather,wasmyfavoriteman.Hewasaquiet,gentleman,amusicianwhohadtroublecopingwithfamilylife.HehadbeenintheBritishArmywhenhemetmygrandmother.HisfamilycamefromCornwallandwhenhemarriedBridgetOReillyhisfamilydisownedhim-shewasIrishandCatholicandanathematohisrelatives.BridgetwentwithhimtoIndiaunderthemostdeplorableconditionsandwhiletherethecouplehadseveralchildren,includingAuntsMillieandEssieandUncleEdward,Essiestwin.AsfarasIknowtherewereseveralbabiesleftintheirlittlegravesintheIndianhillcountry.

MygrandparentssettledinDublinafterEdmondleftthearmy.TheylivedrightneartheRiverLiffey,famousbecauseofGuinnesssbreweryonitsbanks,andgrandmotherstruggledtoraiseMillie,EssieandEdward,SusanandMaryElizabeth,mymother,lovinglynicknamedMamiebymyfather.Mygrandfatherplayedfluteintheatersandalsoworkedasaclerkinthemilitarydepot,buthewasaverygenerousman,makingitnecessaryformygrandmothertobeexceptionallyfrugaltocompensate.ThechildrenwerebroughtupverystrictlyandwithdeepreverenceforCatholicpriests.Thepastorofthechurchcoulddonowrong.Thenunswereequallydictatorialandmytimid(atthattime)mothersufferedgrievouslyattheirhands.Shehadaheartproblemandwasgiventofaintingspellsatthedropofahat(well,perhapsnotthatfrequently).Shefaintedafewtimesinschoolandthereaftertherewasnoproblemwiththenuns!

AtagesixteenMamiewasapprenticedtoaCourtdressmaker.TherewasstillalargeBritishcontingentofgentryinIrelandandmostoftheirclotheswerehand-made.

Mamiewassuchanexcellentseamstressthatshewasinvitedtolargecountryhousestomaketrousseauxforyoungbrides-to-be.Shewouldstayaboutamonthandmakeeverythingfromundergarmentstoweddinggowns.

MyfathermetmymotherwhenhewasstationedinDublinwiththeBritishOrdnanceCorps.Hewasanamazingman.Helefthomeat14becausehefelthisparentscoulddowithonelessmouthtofeed.Hejoinedthearmyandwasabuglerboyandthentookcareofhorses.SomewhereIhaveapictureofhiminjodphurs-fourteenandashandsomeascouldbe.HestudiedonhisownandsomehoworotherwasacceptedintotheEducationalCorpsasateacher.(Imalittlevagueaboutthistimeinhislife.)HelatertransferredtotheOrdnanceCorpsandremainedinthatbranchuntilheretiredasamajoratage62.

MygrandfatherBillHallhadbeenacaptainintheBritishArmy.HeservedinNewfoundland(Idontknowwhy)andmetmygrandmother,Kate,there.Theyweremarriedandoncetheyreturnedto

England,shewasneverabletoreturntohernativeland.Theyhadquitealargefamily-AuntsNell,KathyandGladys,andUnclesRobert,Tom,Willyand,ofcourse,Ernest,myfather.AfterheleftthearmyBumpaboughtapubinExeter.AuntKathywasanurseintheGreatWar(1914-1918)anddiedinFrance.UncleWillywaskilledinthetrenchesinthesamewar.AuntGladysbecameaddictedtodrugswhilenursingatthefrontanditwassuchadisgracetohavesomethinglikethathappenthatshewasmoreorlesscompelledtoenteranunnery,wheresheremainedfortherestofherlife.Shediedinherlateeighties.Bobwastheblacksheep-hemarriedseveraltimes,emigratedtoSouthAfricaandwasmoreorlessignoredbytherestofthefamily.


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IdontrememberverymuchaboutBumpaHall-hewasaverylargeman,wellover6inheightandhadanegotomatch.Heandmygrandmotherplayedcribbageeverynightintheirwaningyearsandifhedidntwin,lifebecameverydifficultformygrandmother.Shewassmallandslightlybuilt,averyneatladywithagreatsenseofhumor.AfterBumpasdeathshewenttolivewithmyAuntNellinPlymouth.Duringthebombingsin1942thecitywasdestroyedandmyaunt,herhusbandPercy,mycousinsMollyandTony,andgrandmothercametoliveinourhouseinDidcot,Berkshire.Moreabout

thatlater.Backtomyimmediatefamily.Iwasaverypunychildanddevelopedwhoopingcoughattwomonths.MymotherwassureIwoulddie.Shehadlostababyayearearlierandwasresignedtolosinganotherchild.ShewouldpushSheilaandmenearroadsthatwerebeingtarred-fumesfromtarweresupposedtobebeneficialforwhoopingcough.Iobviouslysurvived,butwasfoundtohaveasevereheartmurmur.Poormother,shehadherproblems.WhenSheilawasaboutsixitwasdiscoveredshehadadislocatedhipandshewasinandoutofGreatOrmondStreetHospitalinLondonfortwoyears.Shestillhasaseverelimp.

WhenIwastwowemovedtoPortsmouth,Hampshire,inEngland.ApparentlyonthejourneyacrosstheIrishSeaIwasdesperatelyill,aportendofthingstocomewheneverItraveled.WelivedinHilseaBarracksforalmostfouryears,duringwhichtimemylittlebrotherBobbywasborn.Hehadacleftpalateandothercomplicationsanddiedbeforehewassixmonthsold.Idontrememberhimatall.

MybrotherPeterwasbornonChristmasEve,1924,Mothersprideandjoy.Onlytwothingsstickinmymindfromthisperiod.Imademydebutasasingerandhadaproblemwithmyhairbecauseofringworm.Thethinkingwasthatx-rayswouldcureit,so'myheadwasx-rayed,leavingmewithlifelonghairproblems.

WeleftforHong-KonginMarch1926,thetroopingseasonformilitarypersonnel.Weweresecond-classpassengerswithexcellentaccommodations,butthethirdclasspassengersenduredlotsofhardshipsduringthefive-weekvoyage.OnceagainIprovedapoortravelerbutSheilaandPeter,whowasonly15monthsold,hadagreattime.Hong-Kongwasawonderfulassignmentinthosedays.Wehadanamahandotherhouseholdhelpandtheonlyreallybothersomethingwastheheat.Oh,andthetyphoons.

Therewerenoradiosfortyphoonwarningssosignalswereinstalledaroundtheisland,visibletoalmosteveryone.ThereweresevensignalsandwhenNo.6wentupyouweresupposedtobatten

downthehatches,sotospeak.No.7meantthetyphoonhadarrived!

Ononeoccasioneveryoneinthefamilyexceptmewasonalaunch(smallsteamboat)cominghomefromapicnicwhenthewindstruck.Theyhadtothroweverythingoverboardtopreventthelaunchfromsinkingandeveryonethoughttheirlasthourhadcome.Iwasathomewithafever,somissedtheexcitement.

Welivedinathree-storybuildingandourflatwasonthethirdfloor.MyarchrivalinschoollivedbelowusandYvonnestandsoutinmymemory.WhenourreportcardswouldcomefromschoolandYvonnesmotherwouldfindIhadsecuredthehighermarks,shewouldscreamatherdaughterandchaseheraroundtheflat,yellingWhycantyoubeatthatkidupstairs,etc.MeanwhileherfatherwouldbepacingontheverandahwhistlingIwishIdthewingsofanangel,ToflyfromthesecruelprisonbarsIcouldcertainlysympathizewithhim.

Ilearnedtoswimanddiveduringthistourofduty.Iwasntagreatswimmerbutlovedtodive.Myfatherwasveryproudofmeandwouldaskmetodiveoffthedeckoftheferrieswhichwouldtakeustothemagnificentbeachesinthearea.Iwoulddiveoffthedeck,comeupnearhimandhewouldcarrymetothebeachonhisback.BigWaveBaywasabeachreminiscentoftheHawaiibeaches,withlong,rollingwaves-itisprobablyasurfersparadise.

ImademyfirstcommunioninHongKongandwasalsoconfirmedthesameday.

Irememberwalkinghomeinthemiddleoftheroad,hopingthatavehicleofsomekindwouldrunmeoverandIwouldgostraighttoheaven!


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Wehadverylittlecontactwiththenatives.WewenttoaschoolrunbytheBritish,shoppedforthemostpartintheNAAFI(Navy,ArmyandAirForceInstitute)andoursociallifewasatmilitaryclubs.Wedidhaveacompradore-aChinesemerchantwhowoulddelivereverythingfromsouptonutstoourflat.

In1929itwastimetoreturnhome.WesailedonaP.&O.linerinJanuary,andarrivedinEnglandfiveweekslater.TheshockofcomingtoacoldclimateafterthetropicalheatinHongKongwasfearful.

SheilaandIcouldntseemtogetwarmedup.Wewerealsofascinatedatbeingabletoseeourbreathcomingoutofourmouths.OurnewstationwasinNorthernIrelandatCarrickfergusandthisareaseemedtobeevencolderthanEngland.Infact,itisknownforitsbitterwinters,asitisapartofIrelandnotwarmedbytheGulfStream.

IhavewrittenaboutourIrishsojourninothermemoryarticles.Welivedinarowofhousesthatoriginallybelongedtothecoastguardfamilies.Thereweresevenattachedhouses,onelargerthantheothers,andsincemyfatherwasincommandwehadthelargerhouse.EachhousehadalongvegetablegardenstretchingtotheseawallandontheothersideofthewallwasalargestoneslipfanareaforlaunchingrescueboatsintoBelfastLough.Thebeachwasstonyandthewatersocoldthatonlythefoolishorverybraveenteredthelough.(lake}Sheilawasoneofthelatter.Shewasagood,strongswimmerandlikedtoshowoff.Becauseofherbadhipswimmingwasanactivityshecouldexcelinwithoutanydiscomfort.Myfatherwasteasingmeoneafternoonaboutmylackof

guts.Someonechallengedhimtotakeaswimandhetookupthegauntlet.Hedidntevendiphislittletoeinthewater.Hehadsomeonerowhimoutsomedistancefromtheshoreandthenhedivedinfromtherowboat.Tosomeonewhohadspentmanyyearsintropicalclimesthefreezingwaterwastoomuch.Sputteringandgaspinghewaspulledfromtheloughswathedintowelsandrushedhomeforahottoddy.

OurthreeyearsinCarrickmusthavebeenofgreatimportancetome.Iremembersomuch-theschools,thebitterwinters,theOrangemenparades.SheilaandIattendedthelocalCatholicschool-afour-roomaffairdividedinhalfwithonehalffortheboysandtheotherforthegirls.WhattheschoollackedinlooksitmadeupforinitsteachersPerhapsIwasreadytolearn,butIthinkthesethreeyearsdevelopedmyinterestinliterature,musicandeverythingelse.UnfortunatelyIwasagoodly-goodychildandwasnottoopopular.Sheilawasinthesameclassroom(4ththrough8gradeswereinthesameroom)andwasmuchmorefun.InadditiontothethreeRswelearnedtoknit,sewand

cookafewbasicfoods.OurchurchwasrunbyafieryIrishman,FatherMcKay.Heruledbyfearandbyembarrassmentbutthatwastheonlywayhecouldgetmoney.Eachmonthhewouldreadthelistofcontributorstothebuildingfund(justlivingexpenses)fromthepulpitandifhehappenedtoseeanon-contributorsittinginapewhewouldsayAndsureyoumustbehavingabadmonth,Mrs.Murphy,andsoon.

Itookpianolessonsduringthisperiodandwasinseveralrecitals.Ialsoplayedthepianoforthechildrentomarchinfromlunch.IplayedtheOverturefromthePoetandPeasantforsolongitsawonderIwasntlynched.Ijustdidnthaveenoughself-confidencetotryanothermelodyanditwasonlybecausemotherhadsuggestedittotheteacherthatwasIwasdoingitatall.Motherwasagreatpersuader.

IrememberverylittleaboutPeter,mybrother.HewasanicelittlefellowbutSheilaandIwereinvolvedinourowndramas.WewereonlyalongbusridefromDublinsoMothervisitedherown

motherseveraltimesayear.SometimeswewouldgowithherandseeourcousinsbuttherewasalotoffrictionbetweentheNorthandSouthandsomeofmycousinswereagainsttheBritish.MycousinPaddywasahandsomebutvainyoungman-hewasamusicianandhadhisowngroupthatplayedaroundtheDublinarea.OneyearhecametovisitusinCarrick.Hewasabigteaseandapparentlythoughtitwasfuntoteaseme-IendedupthrowingametalpuzzleIwasworkingonathimandbreakingoneofhisfrontteeth.Hehadtogetafalsetoothwhenhereturnedhome.Itsfunnyhowtheselittlethingsstickinonesmind.

Ihadmyfirstproposalofmarriagein1931,Ibelieve.Weweretakingcareofaboyaboutmyagewhosefatherhadbeenkilled.HisparentswerelongtimemilitaryfriendsofmyparentsandEricwas


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veryupsetafterthetragicdeath.HeandIgotalongverywellandonedayheannouncedthatwhenhehadsaved-Iforgetwhatsum-hewouldmarryme.Iwasquiteagreeableandforseveralmonthshesavedhisallowance.

Hefinallydecidedifhehadtogowithoutsweets(candy)andaweeklyvisittothepictures(movies)Ijustwasntworthit!Actually,Ihadmyeyeonsomeoneelse,aboywhosangaduetwithmeinthemusicalatChristmaslaterthatyear.HisnamewasJerryBrownandhehaddark,curlyhairanda

captivatingsmile.TogetherwesangWhenIwasYourSweetheartandtheaudiencewasmostappreciative.Alas,Jerrylikedsomeoneelse.

WhatIremembermostaboutNorthernIrelandwasthebittercoldweather.Thetemperaturedidntdroptoomuchbuthousesandschoolswerepoorlyheated.Isufferedfromchilblainsonmyhandsandfeetandmyfatherclaimedthatmysufferingwasoneofthereasonsheappliedforatransfertoawarmerclime.Hereceivednoticeofhisnewassignmentearlyin1932whenIhadjusttunedtwelve.Sheilawasdevastatedathavingtomove-shewasverypopularwiththeboysatthetime,butIwasanxiousforachangeofscene.

MyfathersnewassignmentwastoCairo,Egypt.

Asusual,IdidntenjoythevoyagetoAlexandria,thoughitdidhaveitsgoodmoments.WespentsometimeinGibraltarandtheninMarseilles,France.SailingthroughtheSuezCanalwasanexciting

experience.Fromthedeckoftheshipyoucouldalmostthinkyouweresailingthroughthedesertandifyoulookedhardenoughyoucouldseeamiragewithpalmtreesandcamels.

FromAlexandriawetookahot,smoky,steamdriventraintoCairo.OnceinCairowetookataxitoKasrelNil(castleontheNile)Barracksandwereassignedquartersonthethirdfloor.Thebarracksconsistedofaverylargeparadegroundsurroundedonthreesidesbythree-storybrickbuildingscontainingeverythingneededtosupportamilitarydepot.ThefourthsidewastheRiverNile,thatgreatestofallrivers,whichfertilizesthewholeofNorthernAfrica.Wedidntreallyappreciatetheriveratthattime.Itwasdirtyandsmelly(Isupposesomeonemusthavetoldusthat)andwewereforbiddentoswimoreventogoclosetothewater.Idorememberthatonenightsomeoftheyoungsubalterns(juniorofficers,probablyfreshfromEngland)gotannoyedwiththepianoplayerandheavedthepianooutthewindowofthethirdfloorOfficersMessrightintotheriver.AnothernightIremembermyfatherstandingontheparadegroundbeneathourflatandaskingmymothertolookatwhathehadinhishands.HehadbeentoaShootandhadwoneveryawarditwaspossibletowin.

Hisarmswerefullofsilvercupsandotherprizes.OvertheyearshewasconsideredthebestshotintheOrdnanceCorpsandwonsomanytrophiesthathewouldofferthemasinducementstoyoungsoldierstryingtoimprovetheirshootingability.ThoughmyfatherwassuchagoodshotandwasinWorldWarIhewasneverinasituationwherehehadtoshootatanythingotherthanapreparedtarget.HewassuchagentlemanImsurethiswasmuchtohisliking.

Cairowasafascinatingcity.ThefamousEgyptianmuseumwaswithinwalkingdistanceofourbarracksandonextremelyhotdayswewouldspendtimeinthecoolvastnessofitshalls.WedidntrealizethattheantiquitieswewereseeingwouldonedaybeshippedallovertheworldasproofofthepastgreatnessofEgypt.

SheilaandIattendedaschoolinthesuburbofChubra.ItwasSt.MarysSelectEnglishSchoolforGirlsandwasrunbytheGoodShepherdsisters.Weworelightbluegym-slips,whiteblousesandwhitestockings,withPanamahatstokeepoffthesun.Icouldneverunderstandhowthenunscould

putupwiththeirgarments-theyworewhitewoolenrobesand,ofcourse,thetraditionalheadgear.IstudiedpianoduringthelunchhourbutunfortunatelyanewmusicteacherwasappointedandshewouldrapmeovertheknucklesbecauseIcouldntmemorize.OurschoolwasattachedtoalargeFrenchboardingschoolbutwewerenotencouragedtoassociatewiththeFrenchgirlsforsomereason.Weheardrumorsthattheywereneverallowedtoundresscompletelybuthadtotakebathsintheirshifts.Thehumanbodywasnothingtobeproudof,evenforonesowneyes.

OnceagainIwassomewhatofagoody-goodyandusuallytookfirstplaceineverythingexceptFrenchandLatin.IjustcouldntseethepointinlearningLatin.Ishouldmentionthattheconventwasahavenofpeaceandbeautysurroundedbyteemingmassesofhumanity.Wehadgrapevinesandall


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kindsofflowersand,ofcourse,abeautifulchapelwhichwevisiteddaily.IdontrecallseeinganymenotherthanthepriestwhoheardconfessionsandsaidMassandthendisappeared.Frankly,boysandmenwerenotmissed.

Ibecameinvolvedinmusicalsandothersingingactivities.SheilawasamuchbetteractressthanIwassosheusuallymanagedtogetthemeatyparts.OnceshewasaLordineveningdress,completewithtails,butbecausewewerenotallowedtowearmaleattiresheworeaskirtpinnedinthe

middle.Itquitespoiledtheeffect.

Vacationswereanexcitingpartofourtourofduty.EachyearwewouldgobytraintoAlexandria,northofCairoontheMediterraneanSea.FortwoweekswewouldliveintentsnearthebeachatSidiBish,getsunburned,andjoininalltheusualfunandgamesatanorganizedresort.Asusual,Sheilawasinseventhheaven,swimmingwiththeboysandflirtingwiththemduringthehotevenings.UnfortunatelythefirstyearIbecameveryillwithwhateveryoneassumedwassunstroke.IhadtobetakenbyambulancetothemilitaryhospitalinAlex.IhadhadmyhaircutinaboyishstyleandIrememberthematronpeeringatthestretcherandsaying,inamatronsvoice,Mydear,wewerepreparingforagel,notaboy!ButIAMagirl,wasmyfeebleanswer.FranklytherewasntanythingtoshowthedifferenceeventhoughIwasgoingonthirteen.

ThefollowingyearwereturnedtothesamecampandonceagainIalmostruinedmyfamilysvacation.Idevelopedaseriousearinfection,butthatstoolongastory!In1934myfatherwas

transferredtoKhartoum.FamilieswerenotallowedinthatareasotherestofusstayedintheCairoarea.WemovedtoHeliopolis,asuburbofthecity.Heliopolisisright(orrather,was)ontheedgeofthedesert.Therewasadefinitelinewhereirrigationstoppedandsandbegan.Weattendedthesameschool,goingbytrolleyandbus,andIsupposePeterattendedalocalschoolrunbythemilitary-Ijustdontremember.Myfather,whohadbeenawarrantofficerformanyyears,waspromotedtolieutenantduringhisKhartoumassignmentandthismeantanothermoveforus,aswehadtovacatethequarterswewerein-theywerenotforofficersfamilies.MyfathersreturntoCairowasdelayedforseveralmonthssowemovedintoapension(pronouncedpon-see-on)-sortofaboardinghouse-untilhisreturn.

Therewereseveralhighlightsofthepensionperiod.Weateourmealswiththerestoftheguests-amixedbag,andIalwaysseemedtobehungry.Onemorningmymotherstartedpouringtheteaandpouredawholefamilyofcockroachesintothefirstcup.Anothertimeshedecidedtochangeher

singlebedforadoubleandthatnightIawoketofindherselfcoveredinbedbugbites.IheardanoiseandwokeuptoseeherhuddledinthecorneroftheroomswearingatMrs.Crawford,theownerofthepension.

MyfatherfinallyreturnedfromKhartoum,butduringthejourneyhedevelopedpneumonia,sohishomecomingwasratherbleak.Whenhewaswellagainhegothisnextposting,toMalta.OnceagainSheilawasweepingandmoaningabouthavingtoleaveherfriendswhileIlookedforwardtonewfacesandplaces.

Maltaisasmall,historicislandintheMediterraneanSeasouthofItaly.StrategicallyitwasveryimportanttotheBritish.(ItisnolongeraBritishpossession.).Valetta,thecapital,hasamarvelousharborandtheRoyalNavymadegooduseofthefacilities.Hundredsofvessels,fromminesweeperstoaircraftcarriers,wereanchoredintheharbor,andthousandsofsailorsroamedthestreetsofthecity.

Welivedinaseaside(ofcourseeverythingwasseaside,moreorless)townofSliema,justahop,skipandjumpfromtheseaandabsolutelymarvelousforswimmingandlollingontherocks.Nosand.SeaurchinsaboundedandonedayIsteppedononeandgotperhapsahundredstickersinmybigtoe.Motherdecidedtouseahotfomentationtogetthestickersoutandsucceededingivingmeathirddegreeburnonmyfoot.Sometimesshewasalittlecasual.

ForSheila,atseventeenyearsofage,Maltawasseventhheaven.HereshemetReg,herhusbandof61years.Hewasanengineroomartificeronadestroyer.Iwasntparticularlyinterestedinmenorboysatthetimesomissedmanyopportunities,Imsure.WeattendedaCatholicgirlsschoolrunbytwoItalianoldmaids,andImeanOLD.IsupposeIlearnedsomethingtherebutmymostvividmemoryis


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ofhavingtopraywithourarmsintheair-averyexhaustingpastime.Iplayedtheorganforalocalchurch.Anorphanagewasattachedtothechurchandtheorphans-allmale,hadtomarchintochurcheverySunday.ImusthavebeguntogetinterestedintheoppositesexbecauseoneoftheteenagersandIwouldexchangeglancesateveryopportunityandtheotherorphanswouldnudgeeachotherandgiggle.Ah,love.

ItookmySchoolLeavingCertificate(Isupposethesameasgraduatingfromhighschool)inMalta

anddidreasonablywellinmostsubjects.UnlessoneintendedtogotoacollegesuchasCambridgeorOxfordtherewerenotmanyopportunitiesforadvancededucationforgirls.Itwasdecision-makingtime-whatshouldIdowithmylife?Beanurse,orateacher,orasecretary?Well,thiscouldwaituntilwereturnedtoEngland.

Inlatel936myfatherreceivedordersforEnglandandonceagainweboardedaP.&O.linerforthevoyagetoBlighty.(SlangfordearoldEngland.)WenowtraveledfirstclassasDaddywasacommissionedofficerbutIstillmanagedtogetseasick!

(IshouldmentionthattheislandofMaltareceivedtheGeorgeMedalforcourageduringWorldWarII.

Mostoftheinhabitantsspentalltheirtimeinthedeepairraidshelterswhichhadbeenpreparedduring

thetimewelivedthere.Noonecouldsurviveabovegroundforlong,asplanesfromSicilyandItalywere

constantlybombingtheislandparticularlytheairstrip.Pilotslandedbriefly,theirplaneswererefueled

andnewpilotstookoverimmediately.PlanesonthegroundweredoomedAllfuelhadtobebroughtin

byshipthroughtheMediterranean.HundredsofshipsweresunkandseveraltimesMaltawasindangerofhavingnofoodandnofuel.Reg,Sheilashusband,wasoneofthebravenavymenwhoescortedthe

oiltankersandmerchantships.HewasawardedtheDistinguishedServiceMedalbyKingGeorgeVIin

I943.)


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Part21937-1942

Years1937to1942AftermorethanfouryearsinwarmclimatesEnglandtooksomegettingusedtoonceagain.MyfatherwasassignedtoanOrdnanceDepotinDidcot,Berkshire,asmallishtownwithnolargeindustries.TheDepotwasabigemployerandtherewasanairfieldnottoofaraway,Harwell,whichwastobecomeveryimportantintheyearstocome.

ThebignewsthatyearwasthetalkaboutKingEdwardVIIIabdicatingbecauseofhisloveforMrs.Simpson.SheilawasmarriedinMarchandasabridesmaidIworemyhairinaMrs.Simpsonstyle-partedinthemiddleandsortofsmoothedouttotheback.Notparticularlyflatteringbutcurrent.

AfterSheilasweddingIwasrestlessandmusthavebeenapaintomyparents.Lifeshouldhavebeenwonderful-playingtenniswiththeyoungofficers,dancingattheclub,etc.,butIwasstilltooyoungtobeinterestedinseriousdating.IdecidedtoenrollinabusinesscollegeinReading,about40minutesawaybytrain.Itookaninemonthscourseintyping,shorthandandofficemanagementandgraduatedinDecember.Lifewasabouttobegin!!WithmynewskillsIappliedforseveraljobsand,halleluiah,wasofferedeachone.

MyfatherthoughtIshouldworkinhisdepotbutIwasafraidoffavoritismsotookaCivilServicejobwiththeAirMinistryatMilton,athree-milebicycleridethroughandbeyondtheOrdnanceDepot.IwastoworktherefromJanuary1938(justbeforemy18thbirthday)untilJulyof1942,whenIwenttoWorkfortheAmericans.Ienjoyedworking.Ihadalwayslikedtobetoldwhattodoandoursupervisor,MissMorris,wasagoodoneatthat.Strangelyenough,Ididntresentherassomanyoftheothergirlsdid.

Lifewasverypleasant.Ilovedlivingathome.PeterwasatboardingschoolatDouiaAbbeysoIwastheonlychildlivingwithmyparents.

Alas,inlate1938myfatherwasre-assignedtoanotherdepotintheMidlands,whichmeantIcouldnolongerliveathome.IhadtakentheCivilServiceexamsandpassedwithflyingcolorssothoughtIcouldgetatransfertothenewlocation.Unfortunatelyitwasnowthefallof1938andMr.ChamberlainwasdoinghisthingwithHitler.No!Icouldnotleavemyjob!Itwasconsideredareservedoccupationandwasunderthecontrolofthegovernment.IsuggestedthatperhapsIcouldjointheWomensArmyCorpsinstead,butthattoowasout.Iwasstuck,atleastforthetimebeing.

Ifoundtemporarylodgingwithamilitaryfamily.TheyhadtwochildrenandIwasntusedtothecommotionsoafterafewweeksIdecidedtofindnewlodgings.Mynewdigswerewonderful.Iwastheonlyboarder.Thecouplewhorentedthehouseweremiddle-agedwiththreesons,allgrownandawayfromhome.Mrs.Fordredwasasecondmothertome,evenknittingmesweaters,andwespentmanycozyeveningstogether,knitting,readingandlisteningtotheradio.Shetalkedofherson,Ted,whowasunmarried,andperhapswhenhecamehomeIwouldbecomeinterestedinhim.Mrs.F.wasntallthatenthusedaboutmyfianc.

Yes,bythistimeIwasdatingayoungmannineyearsmysenior.Iwasntcrazyabouthimbuteveryonewastalkingaboutwarandmarriageandthefeverwascatching.Webecameengaged(remember,thiswas1939,NOTl995!)buthadveryvagueplansastomarriage-perhapswhenIwas21orso....

Thesummerof1939wasagloriousonebuttherumblingsofwarwerebecomingstronger.On

September2thenewsspreadlikewildfire.EnglandhaddeclaredwaronGermany!Theradiobecameveryimportant.Wegatheredinthesittingroomlisteningtoeveryscrapofnews.IlearnedlaterthatintheMidlands,wheremyparentswerestationed,therewasanair-raidwarningthatverynight.Everyonehadbeeninstructedtodigtrenchesintheirgardensandmymotherandtherestoftheresidentshaddashedouttothetrenches,nothavingthevaguestideahowstandinginatrenchwouldprotectonefromabomb!Especiallyonachilly,rainynight.

AswewerebicyclingtoworkonMonday,thedayafterwarwasdeclared,nooneseemedtoknowwhattoexpect.Justaswegotnearthedepotgates,therewasaloudmoanfromtheair-raidsirens.Weall(abouttenofus)jumpedoffourbikes,leapedintothenearestditchandwaitedwithhearts


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thumping.Nothing.Justafalsealarm.Sheepishlywere-mountedandwentontowork,makingsurewehadourgasmaskssafelyhungaroundournecks.

Thewarchangedmanythingsformeasforeveryoneelse.Iworkedlongerhours,hadtoendurelivinginadarkenedcountrywithstrictrationingofeverything-food,clothes,water,heat-buteveryonewasinthesameboat.

IdiscoveredIreallydidntloveRoy.Hehadaveryundevelopedsenseofhumorandwasingeneralmuchtooserious.Ihesitatedtobreakofftheengagementsbut,fortuitously,hewastransferredtonorthernEnglandin1940.Wewrotetoeachotherforashortwhilebutbothofusknewwewouldnevermarry.Bymid-1940Iwasafreeyoungwomanagain,readyandanxioustodanceandflirtwiththeairmenwhodriftedthroughourtowningreatnumbers.

Thephonywarendedin1940whentheGermansattackedandlefthundredsofthousandsofBritishtroopsstrandedonthebeachesatDunkirkontheFrenchcoast.TheDunkirkrescuewasanincredibleachievement.Thousandsofboats,small,bigandbigger,mannedbyciviliansofalldescription,crossedtheEnglishChanneltorescuethetrappedsoldiers.Wordscouldntdescribethesuspenseandthenthejoyofallthereturneesandtheirfamilies.LateronChurchillwastodescribetheBattleofBritainasOurFinestHourbutDunkirkmusthavecomeaclosesecond.

Inthesummerof1940mylifechangedagain.Myfatherwastransferredtoastagingareatoprepare

foraninvasionofNorway,nowoccupiedbytheGermans.Mymother,togetherwithSheila,PeterandSheilassonPeterJohn,returnedtoDidcotandrentedanicelittlesemi-detachedhousewiththreebedroomsandawonderfulbackgardenforgrowingvegetables.Iwasworkinglonghours-eightuntilsixforsevendays,withtheeighthdayoff,sodidnthavemuchtimefordating,butSheilaandIwouldoftengodancingonSaturdaynights.Regwas,asusual,atsea.Ialsodidvolunteerworkatacanteenforthesoldiersandairmen.IenjoyeditbutdecidedIneverwantedtobeawaitress-toohardonthelegs!

BombingsofLondonbeganinthefallof1940.Theywerecontinuousandlifewasfragile.IremembervividlythenightthebomberscameacrosstheChannelandflewoverourareaontheirwaytobombCoventry.ItwasaclearmoonlitnightandafriendandIwerecyclingacrosstheDownstoattendadanceatHarwellAirBase.Thesirenssoundedinthedistanceandthenothersclosertoushowledtheirwarning.Thenweheardadullthrobbingandsawsquadronaftersquadronofbomberssilhouettedagainstthemoon.Wecoulddonothingsocontinuedonourway.Aswewereonourway

homelaterthatnightwecouldseeredflickeringinthenorthwestskyoverahundredmilesaway.

IhadbeendatingayoungScottishladnamedDonaldforafewmonths.Onenighthewasco-pilotonaplanethatleftHarwellforasortieoverGermany.Heneverreturned.ToseesomeoneonedayandrealizehewasdeadthenextwasmorethanIcouldstand.Hewassoyoung-twomonthsyoungerthanIwas,andso-well,nice.Moreandmoreoftheyoungmenweknewwerebeingeitherkilledortakenprisoner.Suchaterriblewaste.ForawhileIdidntdateairmenbutwentoutwithseveralyoungmenfromwork-theyweremostlyfrozenintheiroccupationsa

Joan's Memoirs

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Joan's Memoirs