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US convoys were parked all along the streets, waiting for the "off". One was entirely composed of black men - the USA did not mix races then - but after a couple of days they moved on. They were replaced by a convoy of white soldiers, incuding Julius Ruske, a German who had become a Naturalised American. He was short and squat, but my could he sing! Whenever I hear "Rose Marie" my mind goes back to D-Day.

My mother took pity on the men, who were desperately tired and had been forced to sleep in their lorries. She invited several into our house where they "crashed out" on beds and chairs. My mother din't have much to offer because of rationing, but she made gallons of tea and cut up piles of bread for cucumber sandwiches, which amused them because they thought it so English. In return, they gave us their rations - tins of meat, fruit, sweets and even chocolate!

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