Wright
Family Album
Wokingham 1935-1941
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Glendower, Crescent Road, Wokingham
An early task: GWW, Basil, Hugh, AMW making the front path
We
moved from Bourton to Wokingham in Dec. 1935 and Elizabeth was brought
home in March, 1936. What a joy for her to be home again amongst
her own folk and being able to have her little cat near her.
Elizabeth in Pinewood... and in the garden
with Hugh and David
At
first she began to improve. The doctor was hopeful of her
recovery and started a new treatment, but the disease had taken a firm
hold of her and God took her to Himself on Dec. 29th of that
year. When telling our dear friend Dr. Dynitt about her, and said
how earnestly we had prayed that she could get well, he looked at me
and said, "But she is well, isn't she?" and so she is - free from pain
and weakness and troubles which she might have had had she lived.
Doris was now at London University studying for her degree, and Basil
studying for his 1st M.B. I was able to join father in N. Africa.
1. GWW (in fez) in Morocco 2.
GWW with AMW near the Atlas mountains 3. In North Africa.
Little exercise and a lot of cous-cous made her put on a lot of weight
1. 2. 3.
Life went on smoothly and happily. We made many friends in
Wokingham.
Friends next door - the Rose family (with Paddy, their dog)
We were making plans for 1940 when Gordon would be leaving the Army and
going to Wycliffe Hall to complete his training for the Ministry.
Philip would be coming home with his wife whom we were most anxious to
see. Doris had got her degree, so we were able to make plans for Hugh
to go to St. Peter's Hall, Oxford.
Gordon at Beni Suef - in the army
Phil in India - where he married Yolande, and Trevor was born in 1940
Family Groups: 1. David Hugh Barbara
w Jackie Basil Daddy Gordon Doris w Gritz 2. Basil Hugh Gordon
and friend 3. On the Lodden - Doris Basil Hugh
1. 2. 3.
Then war broke out and changed the life of so many of us.
Gordon was home. I shall never forget the look on his face when
he said goodbye and went to rejoin his regiment. Hugh decided to
enlist and went to Sandhurst although he could have started his
University career had he so cared. Philip had to give up the idea
of coming home. Doris was teaching at Bristol, but decided to
give it up and become a V.A.D. Barbara, instead of starting a
Domestic Science training, joined the Land Army instead. Only
Basil and David continued their study as planned - Basil at his medical
training - David at school.
Father was in N. Africa and only just escaped internment by coming home
in April 1940 because of the impossibility of getting any money through
from England. Then the heart-breaking news of Hugh’s death in
France.
1. Hugh 2. Hugh in Belgium 3. Perhaps his last letter home.
He, Basil & Doris contributed to a family fund for classical records
4. Killed in May 1940 by a mortar bomb during the retreat to Dunkirk.
'He was the handsomest and most talented member of the family and full
of fun' 5. The grave in Bedford House Cemetery, Zillebeke,
Belgium, Enclosure No.6V.A.27
1. 2. 3 (click on image to enlarge). 4. 5.
It was impossible for father to return to N. Africa as it was under
German domination, so C.M.S. asked him to be their Missionary
Missioner. This involved travelling about England, taking meetings,
preaching, visiting clergy, and trying everywhere to stir up missionary
enthusiasm. Journeys were very difficult because of the bombings
and often he had to make long detours to get to his destination.
For instance, on one journey to Liverpool he had to go via Cardiff as
Birmingham had been bombed. It was difficult to find the way
often to the house of his host because of the black out. But he
was always cheerful and rejoicing in the fact that he was helping C.M.S.
As he had to give up the work in N. Africa, he naturally had to give up
the salary he was getting from B.C.M.S. Because of this it made
us difficult to make ends meet in Wokingham, so we went to join mother
and my sister at Pen Selwood.
Doris' memories Doris' reflections on school and college
Doris' reflections on her war years
Basil's memories
David's memories
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