Part 14 To Scotland

Having got safely back to Dundonald camp, and handed in all my armaments, I was gives a pass, railway warrant, and food ration coupons for nearly a month’s leave. I must have had a good tan, because the milkman told my mother that I looked like a n****r. (Sorry, I could not bring myself to publish that word. Please see end of Part 12. RM)

After a few days at home, I contacted Helen, and arranged to see her at the weekend when she came home. Having kept in contact for two years, even although mail deliveries had sometimes been difficult, and came in batches, we seemed to be suited, and so we decided to get engaged.

During my absence overseas Helen had left her job at Walsh’s, and had been directed to work in a machine tool factory, which previously had been a carpet factory. This work had been very noisy, boring, and repetitive, and she hated it.

She was given time off to look after her niece, Margaret Gavin, when her elder sister Mary suffered an injury to her leg.

Helen’s next job was a probationer nurse at Irvine Central Hospital, which entailed her with a lot of studying, and was a bit of an obstacle as regards courtship, but we usually managed to find a way around it.

On completion of my leave, I returned to Dundonald camp, and recommenced the merry cycle of running around once more dressed up like a packhorse. It was tough going, after so long away, but it all came back eventually.

This training was kept up for several months, and then we were given some more leave, prior to going on another operation. This was unexpected, as we seemed to be well on the way to winning the war as our troops were nearing the German border.

During this leave, we decided to get married on the 6^th February 1945, and the happy event took place at the Masonic Hall, Muirkirk, under the auspices of the Rev. John Henderson B.D. who during his little speech at the reception, warned me to beware of the left hand, having noticed the bride was left handed.

Even although rationing was in force, there seemed to be plenty, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

We travelled by bus with my Aunt Janet to Cambuslang, and there was knowing smiles from the rest of the passengers as we hadn’t managed to get all the confetti off our clothing.

The rest of the week was spent with my cousin Nan at Musselburgh, and we spent our time wandering around the sights, and at the zoo in Edinburgh.