To the Editor

In regards to my letter to the editor “Remembrance Day Circa 1950” on 10th of November. I’d be most appreciative if you could correct my errors in this submission.

The matter is all my fault as I didn’t do a thorough check. In my defence there are so few people around me who could tell me much and Becky simply couldn’t talk of these things to anyone when she was alive. But one of Becky’s grand-daughters gave me a phone call when she read my letter and for once I had a clear picture of how much Becky had lost in the wars: a father a son and a brother.

Regarding Becky who worked as a cook in my father’s restaurant: I’ve been in contact with some of Becky’s relatives who have graciously corrected my errors.

Becky didn’t lose a husband in the Second World War nor did she remain unmarried. Her husband died of other causes early on.

Max was her son and all I wrote about him happened as explained.

What I didn’t know was that Becky not only lost Max her son but her brother Elzie Henderson when he was captured in Hong Kong and subsequently died at the hands of the Japanese in a prison camp.

Relatives found out he’d died “horribly” a topic found to be very difficult to talk about. Previously in the First World War Becky had already lost her father (Joseph Henderson).

We can be sure that when Becky laid a wreath on the 11th of November it wasn’t just for Max.

She would not have forgotten

Ed Burke
Minden