boots in my roots

I, probably like many of you, have been researching my roots or family tree. This has brought memories from my parents to be spoken of, which I would otherwise have known nothing about.

This story is of my great grandparents on my mother's side. Their names were John and Thrisa Twyman. They lived in a bungalow in West Dumpton Lane, Ramsgate in Kent called 'The Hut'.

It was Monday 16th August 1943. The middle of the night and both my grandparents were in bed. The night's silence and their sleep was shattered by the noise of an aircraft approaching. My great grandmother headed for the door, (you didnt hang around in war years if there were aircraft overhead). She must have been heading for the shelter. Unfortunately John Twyman coudn't find his boots!! He stopped to look for them as he wasn't leaving without them. This was a mistake and would be the demise of my great grandfather John Twyman. He was 65.

The aircraft dropped a number of bombs over Ramsgate that night. One of which fell either on or very nearby John and Thrisa's bungalow. I was told that the bungalow was completley wrecked. John and Thrisa were both injured and taken to the local General Hospital in Ramsgate. John died later that night, but Thrisa survied.

After hearing this story I looked on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and there sure enough John is commemorated in the Civilian War Dead section. Fantastic.

I have relayed this story to my children and anybody else who will listen. Then out of the blue my ex husband said that he remembers reading about it in a book I HAD BOUGHT him a few years ago!! I was astonished and couldnt wait to see for myself.

The book was brought to me for my inspection and there sure enough was a whole paragraph dedicated to my great grandparents John and Thrisa Twyman.

Wow - I was overwhelmed. Even though they are both now gone, this one paragraph brought them instantly alive to me.

Wherever you are now - I didnt know you, but I love you.

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