The Grampound Times
Christmas 2006 (Edition 43)
Our community in Cornwall
In the last issue of “The Grampound Times” I included a short article written by my golf partner ROGER VIVIAN about the blockade of Berlin following the last Great War by the Russian forces. At that time Roger was serving in the Royal Air Force. Gratitude is a sentiment that abounds at Christmas quite properly, but gratitude expressed during the ravishes of such an event as the Berlin blockade is I think particularly moving. See what you think…
A German Christmas
It was clear and frosty with a light covering of snow as dawn broke on that Christmas Day morning. The light strengthened and we could see, a long way off, a speck in the sky. It soon became a dot and before long we could make out it’s shape. As the sun rose above the horizon, the frost in the trees sparkled and shone as if covered by millions of stars. At that same moment the approaching aircraft circled the airfield once then swooped to the ground, eventually coming to rest a few yards from where I stood.
Presently a door in its side opened and steps were lowered into place. Within the planes gloomy interior I could see small faces, some peering around the door in eager anticipation - others staying in the background nervously. One by one the children descended the steps and one particular little girl, with blonde shoulder length hair caught my eye. She was dressed in a threadbare brown woollen coat, a fur hat and boots. Soon they were all gathered at the foot of the steps and eventually led in a single file towards the transport waiting nearby. When the little girl was near me she broke away, ran up to me and thrust a piece of paper into my hand. As she boarded the bus she turned, waved, and was soon lost to my view.
After the bus had driven away with my colleagues we started to make the aircraft, a Dakota - C47, ready for it’s next trip - refuelling, checking engines, airframes etc. It was already loaded with food by the time we had finished.
Some time later as I ended my shift and looked forward to my Christmas lunch, my thoughts returned to that little German girl and the piece of paper she had given me. Written on it in charming childish English I read “Thank you soldier and a Very Happy Christmas from the Children of Berlin”.
You see, the children were from West Berlin, brought out by the Royal Air Force to spend Christmas with German families away from the hardships brought about by the Russian Blockade. The Year was 1948.
ROGER VIVIAN.
© 2006 Grampound with Creed Parish Council