Читать книгу Reluctant Hero - John Hickman - Страница 7

This is a story that needs to be told about my dad, Bill.

As a child, I sat mesmerised by what Mum told me about his time as a Lancaster Bomber pilot in the Second World War.

When I grew older, I became interested in the why and the how? Dad was reluctant to talk at first. Perhaps hesitant to give away too many pieces of himself, divulge his inner thoughts, and to relive his involvement in those extraordinary circumstances.

When I asked questions, occasionally he brushed me off, but not too often.

And now back to where my story began, the slums of Notting Hill, London in the 1920s. An area as bleak as the Gorbals in Glasgow. Dad blamed his parents Lily and Fred for his rough childhood. He had issues all right, lots of them, and we’re about to go there.

He hated his life, his surname, but most of all his lack of opportunity for a good start in life. Dad became frustrated. He wanted to escape the class-conscious restrictions in which he lived, but didn’t know how. He felt inferior, inadequate and these feelings never left him.

Soon a dark side mirrored his rebellious nature. Neither Bill nor his family knew how these traits would influence him in the years ahead although few were not aware the Second World War was on its way.

Neville Chamberlain’s efforts and pieces of paper had done little to convince anyone there might be a treaty. When what little goodwill there was ran out, menacing clouds intensified, ready to unleash unspeakable horrors.

War machines started to rumble throughout Europe but no one, least of all Bill, considered what part he might play. A role that would involve frequent death defying missions over hostile Germany, when terror was given a voice that culminated for him, in the awful bombing of Dresden.