- Contributed by听
- derbycsv
- People in story:听
- Bob and Peggy Skinner
- Location of story:听
- Italy, Youlgrave
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A4909971
- Contributed on:听
- 10 August 2005
Bob had already had a hectic two years with the Royal Engineers when he arrived in Vernio, Italy, via the Middle East. How he came to be there is entertainingly described in the unpublished memoir of his war service, a story that might never have been had he not volunteered for active service. As a 17-year-old hospital plumber and maintenance fitter in 1939, he was exempt from army service and could have served out the war as an auxiliary fireman in East Sussex, but he was resolved to 鈥渇ollow his mates鈥 to war in 1942. It was at Vernio that he first heard of Youlgrave from his good friend Ron Wood: 鈥淩on and I were on detachment with dozer and crane. We were in our billet one night writing letters and showing photos and he showed me one of Peg, Eileen and Lilian (Ron was engaged to Lilian). I said I would like to write to Peg as a pen pal. It must have been a good letter鈥 we鈥檝e been married over 50 years.鈥 In the course of which, it must be added, they have raised three enterprising and successful sons. So, thanks to a chance encounter in the land of romance, Peggy got a husband, Youlgrave got a plumber and the British Legion got a long-serving standard bearer who, at the age of 83, can still give lessons in military bearing.
This story has been added to the site by Alison Tebbutt, Derby CSV Action Desk, on behalf of Norman Wilson and Andrew McCloy. The author has given his permission, and fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions
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