What a coincidence!

[Dieppe]

Not much of a story this, but in a small way it means something to me.

Having only just got interested in WW2 (some of you know my areas normally to be WW1 & the 1745 Jacobite Rising) I have been looking at various areas of the war.
I decided to start with Dunkirk (whilst dipping into St.Nazaire, Dieppe, D-Day and Arnhem), especially after someone mentioned after seeing a photo of one of great uncles (see signature) that he could possibly have been there.
Anyhoo, whilst reading bits about Dunkirk I found mention of the 'Massacre at Le Paradis' on the 27th May 1940. In the article I saw that one of the two survivors, 2023903 Private Albert Leonard Pooley, came from Southall; my father was born in Southall, so I asked him if he'd ever heard of a Pte Pooley. Imagine my suprise when he said "yes, I knew Mr Pooley. He was one of my neighbours, he lived just up the road. He was one of two chaps who survived a massacre at Dunkirk. You remember, we photographed the outside of his house a few years back".

And he was right! All those years ago (about 10-12 years) we went round Southall, Acton, Hayes in Middlesex to photograph places linked with the family and Mr Pooley's house was one of those we photographed.

Even though I have lots of links with WW2 (one gt Uncle died; one won the MM, 5 (all brothers) served in the RN, MN, Army, RAF, Indian Army; another did a bunk from HMS Hood; gt grandfather was in the CD and my nan lost her fingers doing war work in a factory (although she did have them sewn back on!) the fact that my dad knew someone whose story ended up in more than one book has stirred something in me.

[von Poop]

Lovely little story.
This is one of the things that fascinates me about the war, how it seems to have touched near everyone of that generation, and still leaves thousands of small traces over 60 years after it's ending.

Did a bunk from the Hood?
Sounds rather sensible with hindsight...

[Dieppe]

Originally Posted by Von Poop

Lovely little story...snip...Did a bunk from the Hood?
Sounds rather sensible with hindsight...

Thank you, and I agree that is a lovely little story. I'm going to have to get my dad to tell me a bit more to see if he remembers Mr Pooley's return.
My dad (Ken) did tell me that when Mr Pooley returned home no-one believed his story about the massacre. The other survivor was still a POW, Mr Pooley had been repatriated due to his injuries before the war ended.

The Hood! That was my great uncle Alec Farmer, one of the brothers of my maternal Nan (she of the chopped fingers).
According to my Nan Alec saw the ship, told his mate that he wasn't going on it as it was doomed and went home. He was picked up at his house and taken back to port; he told the Police that they could leave him at the gate as he knew where to go.
He knew where to go alright, he went home again! This time he was nicked and put in prison and before he was taken back to the Hood it had sailed.
Alec had a thing about going walkabout, after the war he'd pop out to get some milk or a paper and that was it.....gone for month or two!
One day he walked out to go to the shops and that was the last we ever saw of him; he died, married to another woman (I think living in Germany for a little time), which upset his current wife a tad!