It was lovely to be home and see Mum, and my brothers and sisters again. I was surprised to find out that Anne was expecting a baby, and as she had to leave the forces, was now living back home with us. I soon settled back into my school and village life, and was pleased to see my school friends again. After living at Gran’s, it made me realise how primitive our house was, with no bathroom, electric light or running water. How hard life must have been for Mum, bringing up such a large family in those conditions.
It was now well into autumn, and Anne’s baby was due. Bill had a few days leave, and was staying with us, so he could be near Anne during the birth. On the day of the birth it was Bill who rushed to the village for the midwife, as our Lil was still at work. Anne, at last, was delivered of a lovely baby boy. He had blue eyes and fair hair, like his Mum and Dad. However, all was not well, as the baby was born with his foot twisted inwards. The midwife explained to Mum that he would need an operation to straighten the foot, otherwise he would not be able to walk. Mum looked upset when she was told this, and asked the midwife to tell Anne about the operation. Anne came downstairs after a few days, and as Bill’s leave was up he went back to camp. It was only when Anne bathed the baby downstairs that we saw his foot for the first time. It really was badly twisted, and you could see that he would never be able to walk unless the foot was straightened.
The baby was christened Keith. He seemed a happy and healthy little boy, until he had the first operation. When Anne had taken Keith to the hospital, the consultant said the sooner the operation was done, the better the results would be. The first operation was not a success, as the bone did not set properly. Keith came home for a little while, but he was a different baby, always crying, and Anne could not get him to take his food. A few weeks later Anne had to take him back for the second operation. The consultant told Anne that everything had gone well, and Keith could go home in a few days. Mum and Anne went to bring Keith home, and at first he appeared to settle down much better this time. He was eating better, and seemed much happier in himself.
Then one morning Anne was bathing the baby when she suddenly shouted to Mum that something was wrong with Keith. We were upstairs helping Mum clean the bedrooms. When Mum dashed downstairs, we all raced down the stairs after her. Anne was holding Keith who was still wet from the bath. His body looked as though it was twitching all over, and he appeared to be choking on his tongue. As Mum took him from Anne, he went limp. Mum wrapped him in a shawl, but even though Mum had a large family, she had no idea what to do to help Keith. Anne was crying, and in a complete panic. Mum told us to go to the village and get the doctor or district nurse. We were lucky to catch the doctor in, and by the time we got back home from the village, the doctor’s car was already there. By this time Keith was asleep in his cot. Mum explained what had happened, and how Keith was choking on his tongue. The doctor said he was sure that Keith had had a fit. He said the district nurse would call, and tell them what to do if he had any more. The fits became more frequent, and Keith was taken back to hospital.
The weather had turned very wintry, and the snow had began to settle, making the journey to the hospital difficult for Anne and Bill. Bill only had a short leave, so when he returned to his base, our Mum went with Anne to see Keith at the hospital. Each time they came home it seemed there was more bad news. Keith was having more and more fits, and could not keep any food down. Then one day Mum and Anne were very late home. We kept looking out the window to see if they were coming, and at last we saw them walking up the field. We knew at once that something terrible had happened. Mum had her arm around Anne who could hardly walk, and they were both crying. We dashed out to meet them, but Mum told us to go back and put the kettle on, so they could have a hot drink. Anne went straight upstairs, and we heard her crying and sobbing. Mum took her up a hot drink, and stayed with her for a while. It was later in the evening that Mum told us that poor little Keith had died that afternoon. We were all quiet and tearful when we went to bed, and I kept thinking about Keith, and what a short and sad life he had lived.
Keith was buried in my Father’s grave. We had the day off school, and so we were home when the car arrived with Keith’s tiny coffin in the back. It was only when the driver of the car whispered to our Mum: “Did anyone wish to see the baby for the last time? If so I will bring the coffin indoors,” that I realised Keith was inside the coffin. Mum said to leave the coffin in the car, as they had seen the baby at the hospital. At the time, it was the thought of our lovely Keith lying in the dark box which upset me more than the fact that he was dead.
There were only a few people attending the funeral. Lil could not stop crying, and Anne and Bill were both crying as they left with Mum. The rest of our family were to stay at home, and as Mum left she said they would not be long. It must have been a very sad time for our Mum, not only was she burying a grandson, but seeing my Father’s open grave would have reminded her of his death. Mum and the rest of the family and friends arrived back from the church. Lil started making the tea, tears running down her face, and Bill sat with his arm around Anne trying to comfort her. Poor Mum looked worn out as she helped Lil make a few sandwiches for everybody. Soon after, the people who had attended the funeral left, and Mum told us to go to bed. Sometime later I heard the rest of the family retiring, and the long, miserable day was at last over. I do not remember seeing much of Bill after Keith died. Anne returned to the air force, and when she spent her leave with us she was always alone. Eventually Anne and Bill separated.
