Respondent 1264

Respondent 1264

This response was written by a 26 year old male serving in the Army.

Read his reflections upon the notion of freedom newly associated with ‘home’ during the war:

“Home naturally means more to me now in the army than before, even though I was away at school from the ages of 12 to 18 and working away form home in 1938-40.

Less important than actual comfort (i.e beds, armchairs, warmth) is the absolute freedom of life on leave at home: the complete go-as-you-please informality. After the army it’s grand to be able to get up late, slop about all morning half-dressed, play records, listen to radio, have breakfast casually and informally- spread over an hour maybe and be able to talk with a mother who remains persistently unworried and nonchalantly cheerful in the face of all the numerous civilian wartime difficulties. Then to come home late (invariably from my girl’s home) at 2, 3 or even 4 a.m. without a worry, to find supper snacks waiting on the kitchen table. Go-as-you-please: that’s what home means to me.”