TROOP TRAIN STOPS PLAY
IN THE early 1950s, my two triplet sisters and I were pupils at Wimbledon High School For Girls. We were all extremely sporty and were valued members of our school cricket team. The school sports ground was bounded by a fence, beyond which was the railway line from the South Coast to London. On one particularly beautiful summer day, we were playing a hotly contested cricket match when suddenly we heard an eruption of shouting and whooping from the direction of the railway line. Much to the displeasure of Miss Wilson, our extremely proper gym coach, we abandoned the game, rushed to the fence and climbed up for a better view. To our delight we found that the noise was being made by a troop train full of American soldiers. The train had stopped at the signal and, having spotted a group of young English girls engaged in the baffling game of cricket, the soldiers were now keen to get to know us better. The troops were travelling from Portsmouth to London on their way to being repatriated. They were in high spirits, and we were very happy to chat to them. Miss Wilson was not quite so happy. She blew her whistle continuously and my sister Florence claims the outraged mistress became quite blue in the face.
After a somewhat riotous few minutes, the signal changed and the train began to move. There was much waving and blowing of kisses as the train went on its way. In high dudgeon, Miss Wilson marshalled us into an orderly crocodile and marched us back to school without finishing the match.
I often wonder if those soldiers remember that sunny railway encounter as fondly as myself and my sisters. I hope so.
Dorothy Forster By email via her daughter, Zena