"The News" , the fall of Belgium

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by a volunteer from Northumberland on behalf of Irene Robertson (nee Dunn). Mrs. Robertson fully understands the site’s terms and conditions, and the story has been added to the site with her permission.

I remember an evening vividly in 1940 when Dad, John Ross (John) Dunn, came home from work, put his newspaper on the sideboard and turned on the radio for the “Home Service” news. At the time, he was in his mid-thirties, having been born in 1904.

Tears started to stream down his face and Mother, Agnes (Aggie, nee Ross), came from the Kitchen, putting her arm around his shoulder as she wiped his tears with the corner of her apron. “The Belgians”, he said, “the poor, poor Belgians, again”. Hitler’s troops had invaded and Belgium had fallen to the Germans for the second time in a generation.

I’ve never forgotten that moment. I’d never seen my Father cry before.

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