- Contributed by
- Bill Raison
- People in story:
- Gnr. Henry William Raison, Mrs. Maude Doris raison, William Alfred Raison
- Location of story:
- Hammersmith, W. London
- Background to story:
- Civilian
- Article ID:
- A4349919
- Contributed on:
- 04 July 2005
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The story is the newspaper cutting from the News Chronicle itself, telling who did what and how we managed, as follows:
"“Desert rat" had a small stake
in £63,000 Christmas share-out.
News Chronicle Reporter.
IN London's biggest Christmas share-out of the war at Broadway Congregational Church Hall, Hammersmith yesterday, £63,700 6s 10d. was handed over the counter.
The 16,080 members of the friendly society attached to the church queued patiently and eventually each of them received a long paper packet.
All had paid weekly sums ranging from 1s. to 10s. into the thrift society, and from 8d. to 2s. 3d. a week to the friendly society.
The smallest packet contained £1 and the fattest £26.
BACK FROM BATTLE
To Mrs. Maude Raison, Bronsart Road, Fulham, went one of the small packets. While awaiting her turn, she hugged the arm of her husband. Gunner Henry William Raison, of the famous 51st Highland Division, who was wearing the ribbon of the Africa Star.
Only that morning Gunner Raison had come home after two years in the Middle East. He took part in all the biggest battles of the African campaign and in Sicily.
With the contents of their packet Gunner Raison and his wife hoped to get “something warm" for their flve-year-old son, William.
THE BULGE IN HIS POCKET
Next in line was P.C. Frederick Anstey of Roehampton, whose blue serge tunic bulged slightly over his right hip. When he had collected his packet, containing £12 15s., he explained that he was one of the few armed constables called in to guard the money until distribution had been completed.
He was the only constable who, was also a member.
Most of the members were women, and the secretary of the society, Mr. A. Spearing, said that was because women were better savers than men."
I'm now 67 but that five-year-old in the photo is me.
We tried evacuation to an unpronouncable place just outside Swansea, but we missed Fulham so much we cam home again. We all survived, although both my parents are now deceased.
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