Midhurst Memoirs Vol 4 Hard Ending
Peter Sydenham
Hard Ending is the fourth and concluding volume of Peter Sydenham’s memoirs and follow the years 1944 to 1950.
Three-and-a-half-year-old Peter Sydenham was evacuated to Midhurst after his road in London had been bombed during the blitz in late 1940. At first, Peter lived without his mother in a room in the St Ann’s Hill building, but when Sheep Lane was hit by a bomb in 1943, he was forced to move to Easebourne and then to Red Lion Street before moving back to London when the war was over.
The massive Allied sea-based invasion from England took place on D-Day 6 June 1944. From then on German forces in Europe were on a hard fought, slow retreat. Midhurst experienced several days of military movement to reach the departure points along the Southern Coast. Reports came in about the severe battles, and atrocities carried out by the Germans. Hitler revived his hate sending V1 and V2 rockets onto London. There was to be no rapid surrender of the Nazi regime. The German forces and cities were bombed, and otherwise, slowly overcome by the Allied forces. Victory in Europe VE day came on 8 May 1945.
The aftermath in Germany, and other occupied countries, was horrific. Their living conditions were so bad for them with everything decimated and employment difficult to find. It took decades for the world to get over WW2. Peace was not as great as people had dreamt about over the war years!
Hard Ending describes the events that are taking place within the Country and beyond alongside a narrative of Peter’s experiences living in Midhurst.
Hard Ending is available from the Midhurst museum for £15