A different generation
Discussion
Probably like you, when I hear this phrase I instantly think of those people we knew who served in the second world war.
My mother was sorting through her attic this week and stumbled across an article that my grandmother wrote for The Lady magazine back in 1987.
I thought I would post it on here, firstly as an interesting (and female) insight into a very different world to 2023 but also as an invitation for you to perhaps share personal photos, written stories, objects, service records etc that you may have stashed away somewhere.
In February 1935 I left Victoria Station on a journey that was to take me to the northern states of Burma – I was alone, aged twenty and going to join my husband who had left six months earlier to prospect for gold. We married a week before he left.
My mother was sorting through her attic this week and stumbled across an article that my grandmother wrote for The Lady magazine back in 1987.
I thought I would post it on here, firstly as an interesting (and female) insight into a very different world to 2023 but also as an invitation for you to perhaps share personal photos, written stories, objects, service records etc that you may have stashed away somewhere.
In February 1935 I left Victoria Station on a journey that was to take me to the northern states of Burma – I was alone, aged twenty and going to join my husband who had left six months earlier to prospect for gold. We married a week before he left.
Stuart70 said:
Fascinating picture of times long gone.
Of its generation certainly, but your grandmother’s views come across as quite modern and humane, in my opinion.
Made me wonder what they did when alluvial gold mining did not pan out…
I see what you did there Of its generation certainly, but your grandmother’s views come across as quite modern and humane, in my opinion.
Made me wonder what they did when alluvial gold mining did not pan out…
My grandmother's husband (the prospector) was killed in WWII. She went on to travel the world as a concert pianist where she met my grandfather - a Lancaster pilot (but that's another story!) Her brother (my great uncle) flew Swordfish and settled in the Philippines after the war.
ben5575 said:
I see what you did there
My grandmother's husband (the prospector) was killed in WWII. She went on to travel the world as a concert pianist where she met my grandfather - a Lancaster pilot (but that's another story!) Her brother (my great uncle) flew Swordfish and settled in the Philippines after the war.
I think I watched that movie!My grandmother's husband (the prospector) was killed in WWII. She went on to travel the world as a concert pianist where she met my grandfather - a Lancaster pilot (but that's another story!) Her brother (my great uncle) flew Swordfish and settled in the Philippines after the war.
In all seriousness, that is a very interesting sounding story. A decent book or movie up for consideration?
ben5575 said:
I see what you did there
My grandmother's husband (the prospector) was killed in WWII. She went on to travel the world as a concert pianist where she met my grandfather - a Lancaster pilot (but that's another story!) Her brother (my great uncle) flew Swordfish and settled in the Philippines after the war.
Your grandmother sounds like a remarkable woman. Did you know her when you were growing up at all?My grandmother's husband (the prospector) was killed in WWII. She went on to travel the world as a concert pianist where she met my grandfather - a Lancaster pilot (but that's another story!) Her brother (my great uncle) flew Swordfish and settled in the Philippines after the war.
Has travelling the world continued in your family in more recent generations?
Thank you for sharing a fascinating story.
ben5575 said:
Probably like you, when I hear this phrase I instantly think of those people we knew who served in the second world war.
My mother was sorting through her attic this week and stumbled across an article that my grandmother wrote for The Lady magazine back in 1987.
Great read. Really enjoyed that. My grandfather went to Africa straight after school at 18 and spent a lot of time there. Working on Nile irigation projects and carrying out lots of adventurous trekking around other African countries. I never met him as he died before I was born but my dad fills me in with the details. My mother was sorting through her attic this week and stumbled across an article that my grandmother wrote for The Lady magazine back in 1987.
If you haven't already watched this video I would highly recommend it. It is an account by Flemming Yachts (though not boat related) of his travels from the UK to South Africa buy road back in the day. He has a wonderful natural narrators voice and the photos and his comments really build a great experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtG6niRiRXk
Check it out.
its not a story of a person, but I thought I'd share this.... new homes of a different time.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/masona/albums/721576...
We live in some pretty unique houses and there are just six of them on our estate (and as far as I know, in the whole area). My neighbour had kept a copy of a 1961 edition of "House Beautiful" magazine because it had a feature on the design of these houses. They call it the "House of the Century" and features numerous times with both photos, floor plans, interior mock ups and design sketches.
I was actually disappointed when I saw it because what was proposed is far cooler than what ended up being built. Although the shape and general design/layout remained our houses are missing the double height ceiling in the living room (instead we have an eaves storage above there) and there is a full wall separating the living room from the stair case instead of it being more open plan. We also missed out on the full height, natural stone fireplace and chimney.
However, I would hazard a guess that the proposed, innovative heat pump system that would remove heat from a larder cupboard and distribute it round the house would have been rather rubbish at doing either!
I am a big fan of mid-century design so these are treasured images really. I love the art work and design work but also the adverts, with their futuristic type and space-age/atomic graphics.
If I had the money I would almost certainly be remodelling our house to match the original vision.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/masona/albums/721576...
We live in some pretty unique houses and there are just six of them on our estate (and as far as I know, in the whole area). My neighbour had kept a copy of a 1961 edition of "House Beautiful" magazine because it had a feature on the design of these houses. They call it the "House of the Century" and features numerous times with both photos, floor plans, interior mock ups and design sketches.
I was actually disappointed when I saw it because what was proposed is far cooler than what ended up being built. Although the shape and general design/layout remained our houses are missing the double height ceiling in the living room (instead we have an eaves storage above there) and there is a full wall separating the living room from the stair case instead of it being more open plan. We also missed out on the full height, natural stone fireplace and chimney.
However, I would hazard a guess that the proposed, innovative heat pump system that would remove heat from a larder cupboard and distribute it round the house would have been rather rubbish at doing either!
I am a big fan of mid-century design so these are treasured images really. I love the art work and design work but also the adverts, with their futuristic type and space-age/atomic graphics.
If I had the money I would almost certainly be remodelling our house to match the original vision.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Saturday 24th June 16:10
The mention of Ceylon in that article and your mention of Swordfish reminds me of my father.
He was stationed at Trincomalee in Ceylon during the Second World War flying in both Swordfish and Barracudas as a navigator. He didn't talk about it much but did have a few tales of the difficulties of landing the Swordfish back on the carrier, having once missed and ditched in the Pacific! He was concerned at how long it took to be recovered as he watched the carrier steaming off into the distance...
He was demobbed in '46 and came back to the UK on a troop ship which was carrying a large number of men who had been Japanese prisoners of war. Suffice to say he would never consider buying a Japanese car...
His mother (my Granny!) was born in 1897 and served as a VAD in the First World War and lost four brothers in that conflict. Thus she was heartbroken when he signed up to the Navy at age 17 in 1939 virtually on the eve of war being declared.
The impact of World Wars is apparent in that, at the age of 64, my grandmother was born 126 years ago.
He was stationed at Trincomalee in Ceylon during the Second World War flying in both Swordfish and Barracudas as a navigator. He didn't talk about it much but did have a few tales of the difficulties of landing the Swordfish back on the carrier, having once missed and ditched in the Pacific! He was concerned at how long it took to be recovered as he watched the carrier steaming off into the distance...
He was demobbed in '46 and came back to the UK on a troop ship which was carrying a large number of men who had been Japanese prisoners of war. Suffice to say he would never consider buying a Japanese car...
His mother (my Granny!) was born in 1897 and served as a VAD in the First World War and lost four brothers in that conflict. Thus she was heartbroken when he signed up to the Navy at age 17 in 1939 virtually on the eve of war being declared.
The impact of World Wars is apparent in that, at the age of 64, my grandmother was born 126 years ago.
Steven_RW said:
My grandfather went to Africa straight after school at 18 and spent a lot of time there. Working on Nile irigation projects and carrying out lots of adventurous trekking around other African countries. I never met him as he died before I was born but my dad fills me in with the details.
If you haven't already watched this video I would highly recommend it. It is an account by Flemming Yachts (though not boat related) of his travels from the UK to South Africa buy road back in the day. He has a wonderful natural narrators voice and the photos and his comments really build a great experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtG6niRiRXk
Check it out.
That was fantastic, his matter of fact narration of grand adventure and travel made it even more impactful.If you haven't already watched this video I would highly recommend it. It is an account by Flemming Yachts (though not boat related) of his travels from the UK to South Africa buy road back in the day. He has a wonderful natural narrators voice and the photos and his comments really build a great experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtG6niRiRXk
Check it out.
There were no histrionics, no grand conclusion, but left no doubt as to the narrator’s opinion.
Thank you for posting the link.
Stuart70 said:
Steven_RW said:
My grandfather went to Africa straight after school at 18 and spent a lot of time there. Working on Nile irigation projects and carrying out lots of adventurous trekking around other African countries. I never met him as he died before I was born but my dad fills me in with the details.
If you haven't already watched this video I would highly recommend it. It is an account by Flemming Yachts (though not boat related) of his travels from the UK to South Africa buy road back in the day. He has a wonderful natural narrators voice and the photos and his comments really build a great experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtG6niRiRXk
Check it out.
That was fantastic, his matter of fact narration of grand adventure and travel made it even more impactful.If you haven't already watched this video I would highly recommend it. It is an account by Flemming Yachts (though not boat related) of his travels from the UK to South Africa buy road back in the day. He has a wonderful natural narrators voice and the photos and his comments really build a great experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtG6niRiRXk
Check it out.
There were no histrionics, no grand conclusion, but left no doubt as to the narrator’s opinion.
Thank you for posting the link.
My grandfather went to Malaya as some sort of shipping agent in the late 30s, we have a few pictures of him climbing palm trees and hanging out in hotels in Singapore where he ended up. He was supposed to be settling in before sending for my grandmother who he was married to, but he was taking his time, by all accounts having the time of his life (he'd tell me stories about club members getting up to no good with the local women, I presumed some of them were autographical). In reality I think WW2 stopped thw easy movement of people, so my grandmother stayed put.
He was very lucky that in late 1941 he developed an eye infection so he came back on a steamer to London for extended recuperation, a few months before Japan invaded Singapore where I suspect things would have ended badly for him as it did with many living there, he was already a member of local territorial army so would have likely been involved in the futile defence against the Japanese.
My dad was born in late 1942 so I may well not have been here had he got stuck, or worse.
I have the feeling that in those days, 1920s & 30s it was very common for British people and families to head off to parts of the old Empire to seek fortune and adventure. There were a lot of administrative posts to run businesses, and a lot of my familiy of that age grew up in India, Canada, and East Asia.
It must have been very interesting time, but all change after WW2.
He was very lucky that in late 1941 he developed an eye infection so he came back on a steamer to London for extended recuperation, a few months before Japan invaded Singapore where I suspect things would have ended badly for him as it did with many living there, he was already a member of local territorial army so would have likely been involved in the futile defence against the Japanese.
My dad was born in late 1942 so I may well not have been here had he got stuck, or worse.
I have the feeling that in those days, 1920s & 30s it was very common for British people and families to head off to parts of the old Empire to seek fortune and adventure. There were a lot of administrative posts to run businesses, and a lot of my familiy of that age grew up in India, Canada, and East Asia.
It must have been very interesting time, but all change after WW2.
Edited by prand on Monday 26th June 11:05
My grandfather was a docker in Hull before the war, he also was a professional rugby player with Braford Northern & played for England. My father has the red rose badge from one of his England shirts sewed onto a blazer top pocket.
As a docker he was in a protected employment, but my grandfather signed up & joined the navy in late '41. He was assigned to HMS Electra as a radio operator. He may even have sent out the message that Prince of Wales & Repluse had been sunk as Electra was an escort destroyer to both at the time of their sinking. In their next major engagement at Battle of Java Sea he was sunk. Only a third of the crew made it off the ship & were picked up, before eventually making it to Australia. Eventually the crew were to be taken back to UK but the ship taking them was sunk & the survivors of this were handed over to the Japanese
My grandmother could not/would not believe he was dead. She spent her life trying to find anybody who saw him dead. She never found anybody who could confirm it. She always believed one day he would come back. She never remarried or had another relationship. She was around 23 when he died. Much of what we know of him we have found since she died, going through her old stuff. The most "interesting" find was the press clipping of their wedding which had their wedding photo & information. It was dated 6 months before my dads birth! It was a surprise to him too!
As a docker he was in a protected employment, but my grandfather signed up & joined the navy in late '41. He was assigned to HMS Electra as a radio operator. He may even have sent out the message that Prince of Wales & Repluse had been sunk as Electra was an escort destroyer to both at the time of their sinking. In their next major engagement at Battle of Java Sea he was sunk. Only a third of the crew made it off the ship & were picked up, before eventually making it to Australia. Eventually the crew were to be taken back to UK but the ship taking them was sunk & the survivors of this were handed over to the Japanese
My grandmother could not/would not believe he was dead. She spent her life trying to find anybody who saw him dead. She never found anybody who could confirm it. She always believed one day he would come back. She never remarried or had another relationship. She was around 23 when he died. Much of what we know of him we have found since she died, going through her old stuff. The most "interesting" find was the press clipping of their wedding which had their wedding photo & information. It was dated 6 months before my dads birth! It was a surprise to him too!
It's always interesting to do a little digging on your family history. I've had some who fought on both sides of the Irish civil war. Also obviously that means some fought the British before hand. Have great uncles who have never been seen again post WW2. Have people who have taken up guns in situations I'd prefer not to admit to. Have one in the family that I'm aware of who was shanghaied and jumped ship, never to be seen again, probably died but I like to think he didn't.
There are medals that my great uncles and previous generations earned that are lost to the family, marriage and not being overly caring about them means nobody knows who owns them now. I'd post pics otherwise.
But I don't think the previous generations were very different. In their views maybe yes and some have not stood the test of time. But in preparedness to do what you think is right, you'll always get people who defend their own (and posh ones who let them be at the front).
There are medals that my great uncles and previous generations earned that are lost to the family, marriage and not being overly caring about them means nobody knows who owns them now. I'd post pics otherwise.
But I don't think the previous generations were very different. In their views maybe yes and some have not stood the test of time. But in preparedness to do what you think is right, you'll always get people who defend their own (and posh ones who let them be at the front).
CheesecakeRunner said:
Before my Grandparents died, they wrote the following about WW2… I’ve edited it slightly to remove anything personally identifiable.
Fascinating. And in a completely random coincidence, whilst one grandmother was responsible for that article in my OP, my other grandmother was living in South Bank at the same time as your grandparents!
ben5575 said:
CheesecakeRunner said:
Before my Grandparents died, they wrote the following about WW2… I’ve edited it slightly to remove anything personally identifiable.
Fascinating. And in a completely random coincidence, whilst one grandmother was responsible for that article in my OP, my other grandmother was living in South Bank at the same time as your grandparents!
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