Sirens and Grey Balloons

About the Book

Although the storm clouds of war were gathering in the late 1930’s Britain was still a powerful force on the world stage, desperately seeking peace through a policy of appeasement whilst half heartedly preparing for war with Nazi Germany. Although the great depression had eased somewhat and Britain had made social advances such as universal suffrage following the First World War, the underlying class structure in Britain had remained essentially intact. Even the senseless slaughter on the battlefields of France and Belgium wrought by half witted generals from the upper classes had only slightly ameliorated the class system endemic in the Island Nation. Historic events of pressing magnitude were unfolding in 1939 and were destined to percolate down to the lives of almost every individual on the planet. This narrative covers the life of a small boy living in a London suburb which sustained heavy damage from enemy bombing and where over a hundred of its citizens were killed and only ten percent of its buildings survived the war unscathed. He recalls the terror of lying in a cupboard under the stairs as the Luftwaffe bombed his suburb, rationing, V1 flying bombs and long range rocket raids. His account encompasses a short period of evacuation to the safety of a country village, periods in hospital with severe illness and the relief experienced by a war torn populace when the news of Hitler’s death heralded the end of the Third Reich and the Second World War. His reminiscences also include details of his family’s friendship with German prisoners of war following hostilities, his schooling, first job in the City of London and an account of his service when conscripted into the British Army where he became a member of the British occupation forces in Germany. However, the main thread which weaves the narrative together lays in the many humorous episodes which punctuated his early years, particularly whilst in the British Army which appeared to have changed only marginally since the carnage of the First World War.

About the Author

Pete Hurdwell and Wendy Williams first met whilst Pete was paying a short visit to see friends in Toronto, Canada in 1993 and after a short courtship, much of it by mail and phone, they were married in Toronto, in July 1995. Following the wedding Wendy moved to Sydney, Australia. Wendy left her elderly cat in Toronto in the care of her elder son, Sean but was adamant that after she and Pete had moved into a home together in Sydney that she would have another cat. The house they purchased was set in five acres of wild bushland, where wildlife abounded. They were to live alongside wallabies, possums, lyrebirds, goannas and a variety of snakes including a three metre long python, not to mention many species of parrots and other birdlife. Whilst Pete loved animals, he was very much against having a cat, as he felt it would pose a threat to the environment and to the local wildlife where they had chosen to live. However, Wendy prevailed and the new kitten was duly adopted. This is the tale of the charm of a little kitten melting the heart of a person who held serious misgivings about him but not only did Tractor win, he and Pete became inseparable mates. Some years later, Sean met his lovely wife, Maryanne and eventually they became parents when Abigayle and Emily were born. Thus, Wendy and Pete became Granny and Grandpa. During their visits to Australia, the girls became very amused by Tractor’s antics and suggested that a book be written about his exploits. It was then that the idea of “Tractor the Australian Wonder Cat” was born.