Phil's Substack
A journey through the streets of London
My continual journey through the streets of London gave me a window into a world that just kept giving. The combination of cab driving and tourist guiding, enabled me to learn about people and places. The capital was likened to a jigsaw puzzle, where I was fitting the pieces into place. Carrying out my research across the London would often lead to meeting an unsuspecting individual.
One such encounter occurred in Chelsea whilst I was immersed in my research on the Royal Hospital in Royal Hospital Road SW3. An institute that looks after military veterans for the duration of their life’s. It was on an early Saturday morning in mid-March under a bright blue sky. I was fortunate to make an acquaintance with Chelsea Pensioner, Alan Dixon. He was sitting nonchalantly on a bench close to the Royal Hospital. After exchanging the morning’s greetings, I sat next to this proud man and ask him how he came to be a Pensioner at the Hospital. Alan was happy to talk about his past experiences. I was captivated as Alan began to express his life story to me.
‘I was born near Rotherham in Yorkshire. After I left school at the age of fourteen, I was employed as a sheet metal worker. I married my childhood sweetheart before the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1941 I was called up to serve my country and conscripted into the East Yorkshire Regiment.’ I looked on in amazement as Alan recalled detailed events of his life with great accuracy.
Alan continued, ‘I was stationed on the south coast of England preparing for the D. Day landings in France. When the assault came we landed on Sword Beach, here I lost a lot of my comrades. After a week of heavy fighting we breached the German coastal defences and advanced inland. I saw so much slaughter of young men on both sides, which brought me into a state of shock.
‘Finally in May 1945 we declared victory over our enemy. Germany was a place that had been obliterated and lay in ruins. My regiment remained in Germany rebuilding its bombed out infrastructure In December 1946 I returned to England and was happy to be home with my beloved wife. Returning to Civvy Street after being demobbed from the army proved challenging. Nonetheless, my wife and children brought me out of the traumatic years I endured.’
‘In my later years my wife became seriously ill, and I looked after her until her sad passing Not long after this lifechanging event, a placement was found for me at the Royal Hospital. I have been a resident for the past twenty years. My legs don’t work very well, but my doctors and determination are keeping me going.’
Our conversation concluded, we exchanged handshakes and I thanked Alan for his time. We both continued on our journey’s. Alan walking slowly back to the Royal Hospital aided by a walking stick. I continued my sortie in the Chelsea thoroughfares. This was a chance meeting on a London street with a man who had known so much hardship, but still had a kind gentle manner. I was enthralled by this stoic individual, who had left me deeply humbled.