An Ordinary Man (2) by Dennis Hamley
To read Dennis Hamley's fascinating account of his father's life, which appeared here earlier today, scroll down. Over to Dennis. Here is the extract from Divided Loyalties which fleetingly introduces Dad as a character. I've taken two liberties here. WS Morrison's letter does not mention the fact that Dad found the airmen's shelter already shut, nor, even if he had, would he have mentioned the emotional WAAF. So I have shifted both episodes in the interests of the plot. They no longer happen to Dad but to my own character, Walter, RAF engineer mechanic and disaffected, estranged son of Ellen and Matthias. He has seen Julie from afar but has not really met her. Their little epiphany at the end has profound consequences for the novel. Walter's enigmatic remark at the end refers to a meeting with his old friend Harry Brindley, who has skived off military service and got into the black market: a sort of Dad's Army Private Walker. I don't th...