Hi Des

I found this site by accident(as you do on the net).I've found it fascinating and brought back many memories.

The only member of my family who was killed in action (as far as I can recall) was my cousin Fred Shaw who lived with 2 aunts Mary & Meg on Moat Road.His mother had died when he was born,his father had remarried and lived in Belfast.Fred was in The King's Own Scottish Borderers.I remember,years ago on a visit to Edinburgh, I saw his name in a memorial book.I can't recall when exactly he was killed,but I do remember vividly the day that the telegram came to my aunts' house.(They must have been next-of -kin) .I was still a schoolgirl then, 12/13 perhaps,and as neither my mother or aunts knew how to operate a public telephone,I was delegated to make the call to The Sirocco Works in Belfast where his father worked.I should say that I too, knew very little about using a telephone then either,but I managed it,from the red box at Salisbury Square.But what a way for a father to hear of the death in battle of his only son! All these years later can I now think how awful that must have been.

On a more frivilous note,as I looked at the picture of the scrap iron in Alexander Street, I have been thinking recently about our "new" recycling drive As I diligently recycle my papers,I recall a waste paper drive in Ballymena.I don't remember when it was.But as a schoolgirl and a member of Girl Guides,I was encouraged to gather paper and old books.Depending on how much we gathered we were given Army ranks,starting at the bottom and working up.I don't remember where we had to take them to, or how I got them there (no hatchback cars then) but I reached the rank of Field Marshal. My one moment of fame! But I shudder to think of what might have been good books that were thrown on the scrap heap.All in a good cause.!

Pat.