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These
words from Binyon's poem 'For the Fallen'
were written to honour those who died in
the First World War. During this period Douglas
Hudson was born and later survived six years
of wartime service in the Second World War,
to grow old himself. Now at the age of 85,
he has written his memoirs. 'There and Back
Again' gives a dramatic account of his experiences
on two Operational Squadrons of Bomber Command,
separated by a period of two and a quarter
years as a prisoner of war in three North
African Prison Camps, one deep in the Sahara
Desert. He was recaptured after making two
escapes and repatriated to fly again operationally,
following the allied invasion of Algeria
in November 1942. It tells of camaraderie
and conflict, deprivation and despair, resourcefulness
and resilience, but above all the determination
to redress evil. It is a tribute to all those
who died serving their country during the
Second World War.
Douglas
refers with gratitude to a wonderful two
page feature of his book in the Times Newspaper
on 10th December 2002 by Catherine O'Brien
and quotes the last three paragraphs.
'Since
finishing his book, another letter has been
added to his collection - from his 21 year
old grandaughter, Emma.
" I knew you were in the war," she wrote. "But you just
don't associate what you learn at school with people you know...I can't explain
how reading this has made me feel, but I am so glad I have had the chance to
see the war through your eyes."
It's a point that sums up the pertinence of her grandfather's story. Wagner
(Erica Wagner Literary Editor) says. "We are on the edge of living
memory. Soon the Second World War will be properly history. There
is a sense that we must seize these first-hand stories while we still can."
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