12 R E C O L L E C T I O N S
Family Histories
KWIATKOWSKI Family
10/ A Foreign Country
It seemed no time before we reached Aden. There the ship took on extra water; it was foul to drink. There also, we watched boys of my age diving for coins thrown from the ship. The following day we reached the Suez Canal having sailed most of the Red Sea during the night, it was narrow. Both banks were close, the one on the right being much closer. On the left bank palm trees grew, vehicles and people were visible between frequent houses, the right stretched away into the far distance, an empty, barren plain of sand. The ship moved slowly, the water of it's wash slapping gently against the banks. Night came when we reached the Mediterranean Sea.
When I went on deck it was sunny, sunshine sparkling off small waves, quite empty in all directions. This soon changed and there were ships in plenty to watch. Exciting at first this soon became boring for me and my friends. We decided to explore the ship and finding an open door we went in, it was towards the stern of the ship. There a metal ladder led downwards to several more. We went down to the last rung which ended about two metres above a floor covered with sand. We could hear the throbbing of engines and our confidence vanished, a quick retreat followed. I think it was the next night, somewhere about Malta, we ran into bad weather and most of us were very seasick. The long breakfast tables covered with eggs and bacon the following morning were pretty empty of people. We reached the Straits of Gibraltar in bright sunshine. It was fascinating watching Africa and Europe on either side before both disappeared as we sailed into the Atlantic and turned north. The Bay of Biscay greeted us with grey skies and enormous waves. It was almost impossible to cross the front promenade deck against the wind.
I can't recall the passage along the English Channel, only the entry and sailing up Southampton Water. It was slow, plenty of time to watch passing boats and a long line of seaplanes moored on our left. It was a miserable, wet, dark, February day. When I went on deck the following morning it was just as dismal with the addition of drizzling rain. It was cold. Opposite us, at a distance was the shore along which ran a road with bare trees and moving vehicles. It didn't look attractive or welcoming. Yet here we were to join Dad whom we hadn't seen since 12 February 1942. I didn't feel happy, just apprehensive, without being able to imagine our future.
It was soon time to disembark and get aboard a train, again just a short walk. Even sitting in a comfortable compartment did not make me feel any happier. It was still raining as the train moved off but soon the day brightened with pale sunshine. Outside I could see fields and houses, it looked empty to me without any woods in sight. Hours later we left the train, got aboard waiting trucks and headed for the army camp where Dad would meet us. When we reached it the sunshine had gone. The day was gloomy with low clouds but without rain. This camp, in Gloucestershire, was dismal. Lots of low, oblong, buildings connected by boarded walks with roofs. The only greenery around the periphery. We were taken into one of these huts with a number of others. It was completely empty. We all spread whatever we possessed on the concrete floor and made our "beds". I woke up late the next morning feeling stiff. As I blinked my eyes, my brother walked towards us with a soldier. Dad, Dad, at last. Hugs and tears of joy but......we were the same yet different. A lot of time had passed with inevitable changes since 1942. The same day Dad took us to the station in another Army truck. We travelled the rest of that March day. Somewhere we changed trains. All I remember of that journey are smoking trains, crowded station platforms. At the end a small truck took us to a half round building amongst tall trees. There was the sound of wind steadily blowing as we went in. Here, in Borde Hill Camp, Haywards Heath, Sussex we became a family, a family facing an uncertain future of life in a foreign country for there wasn't any hope of ever returning to our home. But what followed is another story.
Family Photograph Gallery during Military Service
Click photo to enlarge
Family Photograph Gallery from England
Identity Cards