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Home Front: The Effect on Family Life Mary Munro's husband was a prisoner-of-war in Germany

Mary Munro's husband was a prisoner-of-war in Germany; her daughter Catriona helps her tell their family's story (English translation)

An robh sibh fhèin no duin' san teaghlach an sàs ann an obair-cogaidh?

Uill, bha m'athar a' treabhadh pàirc shios air a' chùl ann a shin far a bheil na taighean ann an Kitson Crescent agus thàinig cuideigin suas agus bha e a' canail ris 'Tha agad ri falbh a-màireach' agus dh'fhalbh e anns a' mhadainn às dèidh sin. Agus Iain mo bhràthair as òige, John Ailean, còmhla ris agus thuirt e ris 'O till dhachaigh - chan eil agadsa ri falbh idir.' He wasn't the age. No. Cha robh. Cha robh e ach seachd deug, ach co-dhiù cha do ghabh e feart sam bith. Agus an uairsin bha iad ann an Abriachan a-mach às Inbhir Nis a' dèanamh trèineadh, agus an uairsin dh'fhalbh iad dhan a' chogadh. Agus cha robh e ach mu, còig no sia mìosan anns a' chogadh agus bha m'athar air a thoirt na phrìosanach.

Càit an deach a thoirt na phrìosanach?

Uill, anns an Fhraing agus bha iad ga chur dhan Ghearmailt às dèidh sin. Uill sin far an robh m'athar, anns a' Ghearmailt. Ach chaochail John Ailean anns an Fhraing.

Tha stòiridh agaibh mu bhìoball. An innseadh sibh dhuinn e?

Uill, a' mhadainn a bha m'athar air a thoirt na phrìosanach bha John Ailean, bha e air a leòn is chaochail e agus fear dhe na balaich a bha còmhla ris thug e a bhìobull a-mach às a phòcaid agus rug e suas còmhla ri m'athar às dèidh sin agus thug e am bìoball rom athar agus anns na duilleagan an-diugh tha na poppies eadar gach duilleig is chì sibh fhathast iad.

Cò mheud bliadhna a bha ur athar anns a' champa?

Bha e cha mhòr còig bliadhn air, anns a' champ agus a h-uile litir a chuir e dhachaigh bha e a' canail 'Bidh e seachad clever. Cha bhi e fada gus am bi mi dhachaigh.' Ach thug e cha mhòr còig bliadhna às dèidh siud.
'Dear Chrissie Flora, Here goes to inform you that I'm - this is in1941, May - in the best of health, looking, hoping you and the remainder of the household are well. I got your letter sent some time ago. Glad you are liking school and see and go to Portree for your holidays in the summer. Hopefully I will be home in the next six months.'
And that was in 1941, and he wasn't home till 1945.

Cò ris a bha e coltach nuair a thàinig e dhachaigh?

Uill, bha e - duine àrd a bh'ann. Bha e sia troighean agus nuair a thill e dhachaigh cha robh e ach mu sia chlachan.

Innis mun a' chù.

Uill, bha cù bheag aca. 'S e an t-ainm air a' chù 'Sòbhrag' agus nuair a thill e dhachaigh cha b'urrainn dha fhaighinn suas an staidhre leis a' chù - an toileachas anns a' chù - ga iarraidh a-mach e. Cha do dhìochuimhnich a' chù air, às dèidh còig bliadhna.

An do bhruidhinn d'athar mu dheidhinn na campa?

Uill. Cha do bhruidhinn mòran. Cha robh e airson leigeil air dè cho doirbh sa bha h-uile càil. A h-uile madainn bha aca ri èirigh mu sia uairean agus coiseachd ro Portrìgh gu Boirbh ann an astar gu na cuaraidhean, fad an là 's an uairsin air ais air an oidhche. Agus cha robh mòran bìdh aca idir.

 

 

 
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Last updated: 20-Dec-2006
Date created :25 Apr 2005