' Mary Astor ' a rose by any other name... by neiwil
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Description
Sunday September 3rd 1939 was a busy day in the Hamilton-Smith household.13yr old Peter Hamilton-Smith was preparing for his return to school, following the Summer break.Peter's Father sat in the back sitting room listening to the radio while his Mother tended her beloved garden.Mrs Hamilton-Smith had recently devoted some time to helping an elderly neighbor who had been ill.As a thank you, the neighbor had given her a rose cutting for the garden.The rose was a hybrid, grown by the neighbors son and called 'Mary Astor' after the popular movie starlet.Mrs Hamilton-Smith had raised the cutting in a pot and was now planting it in the garden border.Peter had come into the garden to watch his Mother, suddenly his father appeared at the kitchen door.Ashen faced he announced, "not again !" and he broke down and wept.Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain had made a radio broadcast, Britain was at war....Mr Hamilton-Smith had been a motorcycle dispatch rider in France during WWI, invalided out after being caught in a gas attack in 1917.His one consolation, Peter was too young and he was too old to go to war....but this time the war would come to them....
My extended Father-in-Law 'sitting' is stretching on, and Karen and I are now giving serious thought to a permanent move to his.In the past few days he has risen from his bed and spent short spells sitting with me in the garden.My mention of having watered the roses brought forth the above story, it's true..Peter Hamilton-Smith is my Father-in-Law and we're in the same house.'Mary Astor' still grows up the garden wall, there are fewer blooms each year but it survives.I think Peter is now resigned to fewer days amongst us, and he has started telling me things he has never mentioned before.It is hard to imagine the horror that was visited on this area as we sit in the sunny garden.
Peter's Father lived to see his fresh faced young son march off to war in early 1945, when as a young artilleryman he was posted to Malaya.The war was soon over but it would be another 2 years before he returned.Many happy years followed, with the usual ups and downs..Peter would never again leave 35 Parkside, except for holidays, as far as he's concerned his next protracted absence will be 'permanent'....but not just yet I hope...
Comments (15)
taliesin86001
Remarkable story Neil, sad in a way, yet hearing these sorts of stories leaves us with memories that last for all time...
debbielove
Neil mate, has he thought of telling his stories to the IWM, London.. They have a huge recorded record of such tales of events of the times, no matter who from and how small.. All recorded for prosperity...? Maybe ask him, I'm sure the IWM Manchester would come to him.... Fine story mate, thanks for telling us.. Rob
Maxidyne
A truly fascinating story Neil. My mother still tells me stories of her childhood in wartime Kent including talking to escorted German POWs even though they were not supposed too. I'm with Rob that it would be great to have them recorded, just watch the ITV 'World at War' series to see how remarkable the first hand recollections are. Lovely picture so full of memories for your Father-in-Law, all the best to him :)
MrsLubner
At one time, I also had a large number of stories like this that were told to me by my father and his father. Both died many years ago and now there is no one to tell the stories to. My children only knew my father for a couple of years when they were toddlers and there is little interest by them or the grandchildren in relatives they never met. The photo illustrates the story beautifully. Great job all around.
UVDan
Here, here to all the above. My best wishes to your Father-in-Law.
Fidelity2
Great creativity you have. I am amazed. 5+!
fly028
Superb story!!!
T.Rex
Neil, this really touches a deep chord. What that generation went through and didn't talk about for whatever reason, only to finally let it out when nearing their end in this world. Let the young listen, and learn. I recall my mother talking of her experiences in Gothenburg, Sweden, where she worked during the war. Things happened in Sweden, too. I recall, as a child, listening in awe to her accounts. And the accounts of others of that generation. But most of the tellers were not involved in the bloody, muddy, horror and agony. The fellows who suffered that kept the nightmares to themselves (and most relived those horrors in their nightmares for over 20 years - I understand why they didn't want to talk/recall them). Beautiful photo and thanks for telling the family history associated with the roses. Keep up the good work! :-)
coyoteviper
you have real treat there. most of our history is lost because we are too busy to take the time to listen, or early departure of loved ones take that history with them. I envy you. all my elders and that history was lost long ago. keep listening, my friend. thanks for the small window to the past.
android65mar
Great story, very poigniant. Sounds like Peter probably does need this time to put things in order. So he managed to avoid conscription into one war only to end up fighting in another. It beggers belief when you think about it. Excellent post. All the best.
goodoleboy
Cool photo and story, mate! As a veteran of WWII, this brought back memories of that era for me. And, I remember Mary Astor well, especially from the 1941 movie, The Maltese Falcon, costarring Humphrey Bogart.
Tholian
Cherish the memories.... But live life.
flavia49
marvelous!
Osper
Thanks Neil.
bmac62
Well done Neil...oral histories are so interesting...and so quickly lost if not recorded or written. I sat with my father-in-law in about 1980 (he died in 1985) and wrote lots of notes about his WWII military service. Nobody had ever asked him for the details...we got out maps and rehashed how he was taken as a POW in December 1944 just west of the Rhine...as his M4 Sherman tank had its turret shot off while bottled up in a small town...he bailed out the driver's hatch (under the driver's seat) and was immediately taken prisoner by infiltrating German infantry. Fascinating stuff...and how he and his fellow POWs were simply deserted by their guards one day in April 1945...and picked up by Canadian Army trucks three hours later. "Hop in Yanks...we're here to take you back!"