Picture caption: David, Vi and Jonathan
Jonathan
Jonathan (83) has lived at Rosalind Court since 2010 with his wife Josie, saying they “enjoy living [there]” as they feel safe, repairs are carried out quickly and most importantly, it’s close to his sister-in-law who they help to look after.
He started his National Service in 1959, eventually joining the Welsh Guards. He spent the early 1960s in Libya, then Germany where he would regularly write to his family to keep in touch. He ran the Sergeant’s Mess which is where, he says, he learnt his cooking skills! In the mid-sixties he was deployed to Adan, near the Yemen border, where he was a machine gunner, protecting his colleagues during the South Arabian war. Soon after, he returned to England to work as a Groom for the Regimental Lieutenant Colonel, and finally left the service in 1972.
For Jonathan, Remembrance Day is a chance to remember who fought for us as a nation. For the past 5 years he has been keenly involved with the British Legion, selling poppies. Jonathan says that his military life taught him to remain upright and keep going – to get on with life and enjoy what you do. With this mind, he’s looking forward to visiting his daughter in Australia soon!
David
David (89) has lived at Rosalind Court for just over 2 years. Born in Aberdeen, he moved to Warwickshire in the 1960s to become a policeman.
David said that he didn’t really know what to expect when he joined the Forces but remembers how his father was very proud of him – particularly when he saw him in uniform. He was based at the RAF station in York, working for the RAF Bomb Disposal Unit, which he said was extremely rewarding. They covered a lot of the coast from Chesil Beach up to Scotland and used old Army bases to station themselves. He remembers seeing the bombs on the beaches marked with flags. David says he misses the camaraderie most of all, saying he met friends for life during this period and they supported and looked after each other.
For David, the 2-minute silence on Remembrance Day is always important as a mark of respect, as the date reminds him of the terrible danger and loss of life.
Vi
Mary Violet, known as Vi (97) has lived at Rosalind Court since October 2021. She says it’s taken her a while to adjust to living without her garden but has got used to it over time! Vi was born in the Valleys in South Wales, the only girl in her family. Sadly, her mother died in childbirth with her tenth child. Vi’s father then sadly passed when she was 14 years old and so the Salvation Army found a Home for Girls for her in London.
Vi shares how, at 17, she worked at a factory building the Lancaster Bombers. She made machine parts there until she was 21. She remembers that it felt quite strange at first, but having grown up with so many brothers, she easily fitted in! She said that she has always been independent after losing both parents so young and says, in a way, this made her strong and determined.
We’d like to thank Jonathan, David and Vi for their service, and for sharing their stories with us.
