"It's no good celebrating, your Dad's not coming home."

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Ann Clarke was interviewed by her daughter, Sally Ann Clarke. This story was submitted by Sally Ann Clarke with Ann's permission. Ann fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

“When war broke out we were living in 66 Beechmore Road, Sheldon Birmingham near South Yardley.
My Father, Cyril James Morgan was a chief mechanical engineer and he did his apprenticeship in Swindon, in the railway.
He volunteered at the beginning of the war, 1939.
My Mum felt very bitter that he actually volunteered, that he went, having 2 young children.
He was a Warrant Officer in the Royal Air Force, Volunteer Reserve.
I don’t really remember much of him. I don’t remember him coming back to visit us. I was only 3 then and my sister, Jill, was even younger.

I remember I received a telegram from my Dad for my 6th Birthday on 20th June 1942 which was sent from Malta. It said:

“Loving birthday greetings. Best wishes, love and kisses, Dad Morgan”

He sent another telegram to Mum on 28 August 1942 which said:

“See you soon — Cyril”

On 20th October 1942 Mum went to the door and was given this telegram.

The telegram said:
“Regret to inform you that your husband No. 1455814 Warrant Officer Cyril James Morgan is missing as the result of enemy action at sea on 18th/19th September……”

I remember her being very distressed but we didn’t really understand quite what was going on. There was a lot of crying.

At primary school none of my friend’s dads had died in the war.
You try and put it out of your mind because you don’t want to remember.

We found out later that Dad Morgan was on a boat coming home and a German submarine hit the ship. He drowned. I do not know the name of the boat. He had been based in Malta, I believe he was doing secretive work.

His best friend (I don’t remember his name) owned the Wagon and Horses pub in Sheldon, he survived because he could swim well. My dad couldn’t swim very well. He used to come round and visit us, he probably said a lot to Mum that we didn’t know about.

We realized when the telegram came that our Dad had died but didn’t really understand what that meant, that he wouldn’t be coming back. The telegram said he was missing.

Dad’s sisters, Gladys and Flora and his father Thomas were still alive and living in Swindon and they were very supportive of us. They used to send us parcels and we used to go and stay in Swindon, which was Mum’s home town. I was excited about going on a train.
By the end of the war both Jill and I felt quite bitter as well.

It wasn’t until 28th March 1943 that my mum was informed that all efforts to trace my father had failed, and another 6 months after that that he was pronounced ‘officially dead’. The date of his death was changed to 12th September 1942. (Mum has kept all the telegrams and letters which I have now.)

I remember in May 1945, VE day. Mum said “it’s no good celebrating because your Dad’s not coming home” and I realized then Mum was a widow and we had to grow up without him.

He was 30 when he died. His memorial is in El Alamein Cemetery in Egypt.”

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