- Contributed byÌý
- Severn Valley Railway
- People in story:Ìý
- Dereck Lester
- Location of story:Ìý
- Salisbury
- Background to story:Ìý
- Civilian
- Article ID:Ìý
- A3903978
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 16 April 2005
I was three and a half years old when the war finished. I remember the Christmas after the war, my father - a staff sergeant and training officer - invited seven German prisoners to our home for Christmas dinner.
They all arrived in their uniforms and only one of them spoke English. I remember him trying to shoo me off to bed at 7pm, just like any other ordinary man. They were just the same as us really. I think after all those years of fighting my father felt sorry for them.
I was only three and a half but I remember it vividly. It shows it must have had quite an impact on me.
(This story was submitted to the People's War site by a volunteer from Wyre Forest Volunteers Bureau on behalf of Dereck Lester and has been added to the site with his permission. Mr Lester fully understands the site's terms and conditions.)
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