Home on Leave and the end of WW1

 Home on Leave

My father used to live it up when he came on leave from France and within a few days he was broke. So, off he would to Plumstead Baths or the old Ring at Blackfriars, and there manage to get himself on the bill to fight as a welterweight and so earn a few extra pounds. The prize money was small but father used to tell me that he often got more from ‘nobbins’ – money thrown into the ring by the patrons near the ringside in their appreciation of a good set-to, at the end of the fight. My mother hated it and used to be worried stiff!

              




Postcard sent to my father, serving in France

Mother, seated, with my older brother Tom and sister Mabs.  I would have been 11 months old when this was taken.

“May 5th 1917 – Daddy Darling, we all want to know when you are coming home to have your photo taken with us.”                           

Mrs Hall, 38 Winifred Street, Nth Woolwich’

 


A year later the war had ended, and the family was re-united in 1919

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