Gunner Robert Henry McBride, Stalag X1A

A story my dad wrote and I was fortunate to have published, its readable and according to my mother is really the truth.

Gunner Robert McBride

Robert McBride (centre), after liberation in 1945. Tony Powsong is on the right.

My dad is the central figure, Tony is on the right, I am not sure who is on the left.

Roy

Unit : Royal Artillery

Served : North Africa (captured)
Army No. : 1500264
POW No. : 140378
Camps : PG 78, Stalag XIA

My Days in the British Army by Gunner Rob McBride 1500264. Royal Artillery. From July 1939 to April 1945

Sketches of British prisoners of war by Ted Jones. Left to right Rob McBride of Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, Fred Seanor from Huyton, Jim/John Burrian and "Peggy" O'Neill, both of Liverpool.

My dad writes below.

I am not an advocate for war. Any kind of war causes death, suffering and untold misery. Out of war sometimes will come frustrations and laughter. This is the story of my war, or the very small part I was permitted to play in it. After all these years, I often think was it all really worth it. Why countries of this world cannot live in peace remains to be seen. The wars which have occurred since 1945 are still a reminder, are countries better off afterwards?

July 1939 on the eve of the greatest war in history, aged 20 I was called up in what was then called the first militia. Living then in Birkenhead in Cheshire I didn't have any great distance to travel to my first camp which was at Arrowe Park, Birkenhead. I thought it was great, a soldier in the British Army. I think even then we were half soldier and half civilian, for we were issued with the regulation uniform, and for walking out, were given grey flannel slacks and blue blazer. Once I was asked by a passer by which army did I belong. The blue beret which went with the walking out dress didn't help matters either! But, true to tradition we were given a hard time on how to be a soldier, we were drilled by regular soldiers who really knew their job, and after a few months of Physical Training we were really fit and raring to go. It was hard work but fun. Six months of this and back to civvy street. Little did we know in just a few short months what lay in store for us.


Read the rest of the story below.

http://www.pegasusarchive.org/pow/rob_mcbride.htm

Roy McBride

More camping pics, Howgill Lodge, Yorkshire

Seen here a Camping Club weekend, Central Yorkshire Camping Club meet in 1965.

Just check out all those 1960s cars, the older one at the back was my dads 1953 Morris Oxford.

Click on the picture for a larger view.

I can see an Austin in the front, then a Ford Cortina, with a Ford Capri Classic, then another Ford Cortina, with dads Morris Oxford at the very back, the other car to the far  left is a Vauxhaul VX490.

Roy

A Horse Shoe from Brasil

This one should tell its own tale but what that may be I have no idea, it was found up a river in Salvador, Bahia, Brasil and in 1988. We had anchored off the river bank for the night and on a trip ashore I found the cast iron shoe.

This would have fitted a full sized horse, note that there are no holes for nails, so this shoe was never fitted.

The inside of the shoe, there is corrosion but otherwise the shoe is in good condition.
Why was this shoe near the river bank, I can only assume a Farrier had set up shop near the river bank and lost this shoe in the process.

More on this can be found in the link below.

http://ckdboats.blogspot.com/2009/11/lucky-horseshoe.html

Roy

The Horse Shoe

My folks owned two horse shoes, while I had just the one, today they make a collection of three, why?

This one is well used and probably removed so that a new one could be fitted?

Info  below from Wikipedia, many thanks.

There is very little evidence of nailed-on shoes prior to AD 500 or 600, though there is speculation that the Gauls were the first to nail on metal horseshoes.The nailed iron horseshoe first appeared in the archaeological record in Europe about 5th century A.D. when a horseshoe, complete with nails, was found in the tomb of the Frankish King Childeric I at Tournai, Belgium. The earliest clear written record of iron horseshoes is a reference to "crescent figured irons and their nails" in AD 910.

 This is the same shoe but from the reverse side, bought for a few pounds as a display piece, why the interest in horse shoes?

Brass Horse shoes.

One and its quite small, was found by my dad when he was escaping from the Italian Army. He had just escaped from a prison after capture in World War Two, the shoe was found on a trail as he escaped. This one is made from solid brass, looks used, its just 70mm long, so off a donkey I would assume?

 My dad was later re captured but he kept and carried that horse shoe untill he was later released, the shoe was later fastened to the back door of the garage at home in Maghull, Lancashire, England. It must have stayed there over fifty years and untill I brought it back to Hout Bay, near Cape Town last March 2011.

Roy

Stuck for choice

With the huge range of styles and shapes on display, making your final choice may not be an easy one, prices start really low too, R20 buys you a great gift, hows that for a start!

Roy

Access lift for the modern home

This was a UK installation in a private home and for an edlerly person who could not get her wheel chair up the walk way steps.

Lift one and from the ground level start.

Lift position two as the floor begins to rise.

Notice the large gap underneath as the floor rises

The lift is complete, the passenger can move inwards now.

The lady in the picture is not the lady in question, she was doing the photo shoot as a demonstration only.

Next door but one to us a new couple moved in about 6-months ago. The wife has lot wrong with her so can walk only a short distance and needs a wheel chair or mobility scooter but the path from the pavement to the house front door rises

about 4.5 to 5.0 feet. The council have just installed this amazing chair lift, it is all polished stainless steel and electrically operated with safety features and is very well made,

With my own mother in a care home and at some cost, I can see the merit in this expense, it keeps elderly folk in their own homes.

Roy

Tent Camping Club girls

Looks like summer?

Roy

Little and Large

The little one is my mother, so that means the larger one is me.

The car is my dads 1953 Morris Oxford, licence plate number OKC475

Roy

Bald man see hair replacement work

I am not sure of the place or the date, probably circa 1968, I also have no idea who the man is but for sure the lady behind him is one Shay French!

Some of the great fun to be had at a Camping Club meeting back then.

Roy

Lifes a giggle

You can find that sign at Bokke & Blomme, also at Sweet Pea Creations.

Roy and his grandson Ben

This was a picture taken when Ben came down one christmas with his parents for a holiday, it was a few years back as he is five and a half now!

I am wearing the tee shirt of the now defunct TBA ( traditional boat Asso) this picture was posted on the Hebburn on Tyne web site,serch for it in Vals pictures at
http://www.hebburn.org/

Roy

Sweet Pea Creations, bag department

Check Lornas display of hand bags, really different!

Lifes a doll

Lornas shop has a whole range of hand made dolls.

Have a Heart

You van have lots of them when you visit Bokke & Blomme atb their Bay Harbour craft market stall, selection is the name of the game.

Check Bokke & Blomme out of Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/BokkeandBlomme

Roy

Bokke & Blomme, Sign Makers

This was a natural off shoot of the day to day design work they do, you will speed the delivery process up if you have already got the art work in a format that is computer friendly.

If you do not have this, you will need to discuss the design with either Janet or Nigel, both are there to help and ensure you get what you want.

Roy

Sign makers in Cape Town, Bokke & Blomme

Cape Town is a general term, as with the post man and lots of couriers Bokke & Blomme can deliver to just about anyplace. They will need your artwork and colour preference, they will do the rest for you.

A simple layout can often have the larger and more effective efect.

Roy

Sign maker, thats Bokke & Blomme

All shapes and sizes are possible, painted  to your companies colour, these signs will pass on the message.

In this case a small sample was supplied, the art work was taken from that, once its in the computer, it can easily be re used and made to most sizes, large or small.

Roy

Bokke & Blomme, sign makers

With an ability to design and shape to many patterns, the team have taken on a number of outside orders, this was just one of them.

You may have to do your own installation, its easy, just some double sided tape and a tube of clear silicone applied to ensure it stays stuck where you place the letters.

The  signs make the shop!

Roy

Tryweryn, North West Wales

In 1956, a private bill sponsored by Liverpool City Council was brought before Parliament to develop a water reservoir from the Tryweryn Valley. The development would include the flooding of Capel Celyn. By obtaining authority via an Act of Parliament, Liverpool City Council would not require planning consent from the relevant Welsh Local Authorities. This, together with the fact that the village was one of the last Welsh-only speaking communities, ensured that the proposals became deeply controversial. Thirty five out of thirty six Welsh Members of Parliament (MPs) opposed the bill (the other did not vote), but in 1957 it was passed. The members of the community waged an eight-year effort, ultimately unsuccessful, to prevent the destruction of their homes.

Robert Henry McBride pictures.

When the valley was flooded in 1965, the village and its buildings, including the post office, the school, and a chapel with cemetery, were all lost. Twelve houses and farms were drowned, and 48 people of the 67 who lived in the valley lost their homes. In all some 800 acres (3.2 km²; 320 ha) of land were submerged. Llyn Celyn, otherwise known as the Tryweryn Reservoir, was formed. Many of the stones from the original chapel were re-used in the construction of the new Memorial Chapel.

Both picture's were taken back in 1962 by my father, they have never been published before.

To read more on this sad event read the link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capel_Celyn

On 19 October 2005, Liverpool City Council issued a formal apology for the flooding. Some in the town of Bala welcomed the move, though others said the apology was a "useless political gesture" and came far too late.

The flooding of the village inspired a Manic Street Preachers song, "Ready For Drowning.

Read the views of those Welsh persons affected in this link.

http://www.llgc.org.uk/ymgyrchu/Dwr/Tryweryn/index-e.htm

 I have seen this village re appear in years of drought, its a reminder of what the politics of the day had done.

Roy

Ben and Her at the Camping Clubs FOL in 1972

The FOL events always had a theme we were supposed to dress up to, was this the movies or Cleopatra? It was an impromptu fancy dress using only what you had with you that weekend.

The place was in North Wales and a village named Garth, a firm favourite of club campers. This was the Liverpool and N Wales district associations Feast of Lanterns meeting, the notes on the back of the picture tell me its September but gives no year.

Note, another picture with the date 15th July 1972 gives us the place and date.

Roy

Sandra and my mother

Party time was always a great event in our home, looks like a New Year bash?

Photo by Rob McBride

Roy

Sister Sandra Jennings

Sandra was really my cousin but came to live with us for a short time, staying over two years, she became more of a sister to me than a cousin.

Thats Sandra on the right, she is off to get some drinking water.

The lady on the left is my aunt Gret Jennings, who is Sandras mother, thats my cousin Malcolm sitting in the deck chair. My Uncle Vic is stooped down at the side of the tent, his car a Morris Farina, is just in the picture on the right.

Roy

Hi Jean, sorry don’t know exactly where but was a obviously a camping club event and I would be about 20ish which would make it about 1963, although I had had that anorak a few years before that and it ended up with lots more badges on it.

Adrian French gets christened.

This was back in March 17th 1974, the baby was the first child of Les and Tracy French, by proxy I was made the god father (thanks) Adrian has just turned 38!

I can identify about half of those there as many were Camping Club members like myself.

Starting from the left hand side and front row girl (name?) Phil Lewin , girl (name?) Pam Salthouse, or was she married to Ken Galletley standing behind her by this time?

Bob Meadows, girl (name?) guy behind her (name?) Les French's brother, wife and child (names?)

The two standing behind are Tracy and Les French.

The proud grand parents, John and Shay French, Tracy, Adrian and Les.

My dad, Tracys sister (name?) Adrain and my mother, that is Bob Meadows standing behind and smiling, looks like Ken Galletly behind my mother?

Roy

Cape Town, South Africa.

Dad toasts the weather

I have no idea really but its mor than possible?

I note a beer can there but thats a whisky in dads glass?

Roy

Doreen and Rob McBride tent unit

The quality ethic of the modern frame tent back in the early sixties was simple, waterproof, windproof, easy to errect and take down, long lasting.

My mother talking to Geoff Farmer, the place was Aughton,Halton, Lancashire and dated 23rd of July 1972 ( its so nice when this info is written on the back of the picture)

Dad took the picture, by this time I had been living in Cape Town,South Africa for around four years.

We still have that Bush radio, in fact we still have the purchase invoice! Janet looks after the radio now and it still works too.

Roy

Winter Camping in Liverpool

Seen here is a frostbite weekend camp, its in Aughton I think, check the frost on the ground!

The tents were about where the camera man was.

Face Book has Bokke & Blomme

Sounds good, maybe we should say that the other way around? either way you will find Bokke & Blomme in the Bay Market, thats on the far side of Hout Bay Harbour, just drive along the harbour road untill it ends, the market is the very last building on the right.

Signs and shapes of all sorts .

Roy

Camping at Lake Bala, North West Wales

Seen here is the Mc Bride camping unit, the car was the 1953 Morris Oxford MO, the tent was made ( i think ) by the French company Marechal.

Was this about 1962, if not its close. A Rob McBride photo.

Marechal are still being made.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/search.asp?m=1022

Roy

Liverpools CCY youth

This was the normal start to our weekend, meet up with old and new friends, always a fun weekend, rain or shine,snow in the later winter camps too.

Pat Williams (Wrexham, Wales) Roy McBride, Pam Salthouse, John McKay, Ian McEvoy.

Pam saw some of these pictures last year, so she can be contacted but where are Pat, John and Ian these days?

Photo by Rob McBride

Les and the CCY at the Garth 1964 weekend

I say Les, as its his Fordson black van, Les is the guy with his arms out stretched.

Click on the picture for a better view.

The names?

Robert, Ian, Pat,Pam. Les, Roy,Carmen,in van Peter,two brothers (names?).

My dad took the picture and as the writing on the rar of the picture tells me where it is, I assume my folks went to this youth weekend as support. My dad was the Youth Officer for some years.


Roy

The CCY girls

Well two of them, we had a great mix of guys and dolls and met just about every weekend during the summer months. This was a great way to meet people and get about at the weekends.

The CCY was short for Camping Club Youth, we had a great bunch of members.

Photo by Rob McBride

The car was probably a 1962 Triumph Herald and owned by Ed Salthouse, thats his daughter Pam on the left, the dark haired girl is Barbra Drilsma, I know where Pam is now but what of Barabra?

Roy

John and Shay French at the FOL

Seen here and I think at the 1964 Garth Feast of Lanterns.

An RH Mc Bride photo.

John and Shay, always a great laugh and none more so as when dressed as Adam and Eve!

Roy

A corner display in Lornas shop

Sweet Pea Creations and Nursery hold a wide selection of local art and dress items.

Roy

Bokke and Blomme in Lornas shop

The two girls trade with each other, so whats in one shop can sometimes be seen in the other.

Roy

Lapoppie Rabits

Seen here in Lornas shop, available in South Africa or by post world wide.

Payment via Pay-Pal is easy!

Roy

The Camping Club in 1960, a newspaper cutting

Seen here is a small item kept all these years, now some 52 years old, its small clip of the life and times of early camping in Great Britain.

Click on it to view in a larger size.

They are the Liverpool members of the Camping Club and also committee members, that is  Geoff Clampitt photo.

Tent Camping Group circa 1970

Seen here is the dressed up assembly, some of it at least, these meets were really great fun and a new theme was suggested each year.

Picture by RH McBride

Roy