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wikipedia "... At the beginning of the Second World War, Lodwidge was a student. A French speaker, she decided to join first the Auxiliary Territorial Service and then, in February 1942, the army of Free France (France Libre) As a result, she spent two years working with the Bedouins in the Syrian desert. ..."
 When he was on his deathbed, my mother started - The World STD
DOCtheworld.com › ~eva › george3
"... On Jan. 5, 1943 George Casey and 4399 other GIs embarked on The Empress of Japan (?!) without convoy. He was seasick most of the way. “Boat filthy; Meals terrible;…Very much disappointed in whole setup.” There was a pool on their arrival date and harbor. Jan.14, Firth of Clyde, won. Once settled at the Disciplinary Training Center in Langport, Somerset, they arranged the office so that all got a weekly 24-hour leave. Right away George became involved in the local scene, but not until Palm Sunday does “the French lady, Mrs. Lodwidge” rate a diary mention. Soon he’s playing bridge with her set. By July I am picking up a definite frisson from the diary (e.g. “First contact!”). July 1943 highlights: “Sicily invaded by Allies…Lodwidge house invaded by—.” Until he departed for France in October 1944 it seems like he spent most of those 24-hour leaves at Ker Huel (Lisette’s house). When Mrs. L’s daughter, Jacqueline, who was in the Free French, came home on leave before shipping to Syria, he didn’t get “his” room, but he got another. It comforted my mother, who was in love with George, but not engaged, to know Lissette was old enough to have a grown-up daughter. But then she started wondering if she should be worried about Jackie! (No she should not.) Mme. Lodwidge helped Sgt. Casey buy a diamond ring which he put in the post safe “for Kilty.” But then in July 1944 (The ring has been in the safe for months) he’s writing in his diary “Still have come to no decision about Kilty.” Dec 19, 1944: “Very busy in office. I don’t like France. Am lonesome for ‘7247,’ POP, rest of family, & Alice.” On Friday Feb. 9, 1945, George took his first plane ride. “Left Chartres 10:45 AM. Arrived Yeoviltan airport 1:10. Truck to Sherpton Mallet. Receipt for 52 GPs” (That would be German Prisoners). Then cab to Langport. Drinks by the fire at Ker Huel. Breakfast in bed (a tradition by now). Bridge. Quiet evenings in a real home. And for variation he goes out visiting—11 stops are named, plus the Rose & Crown. He hated to head back to the Loire DTC on Wednesday morning. I have a letter to “POP & All” on the same adventure. It covers how he wrangled to be chosen for this duty, the two days of mechanical and weather delays before liftoff, how the White Cliffs of Dover really are white, and on the French side too…for a whole page. And not one word about the accomodations. He got home 5/5/1945 due to his father’s stroke. He got a 45-day furlough. He was discharged 9/13/1945. ..," Laurent Laloup le lundi 01 janvier 2018 - Demander un contact Recherche sur cette contribution | |
