Cricket Witness No 3 - The Daffodil Blooms

63 Triumph and tragedy for matches during August 1940 against a London Counties XI at both the Arms Park and Swansea, plus a two-day fixture against a Somerset XI at Weston-super-Mare. As the dreadful events of the War unfolded, neither of these games took place and trips home became purely for family rather than cricketing reasons. Maurice’s letters to Elizabeth reflected this change in mood: “The war goes worse and worse. It seems months since I saw you, and held you. But meanwhile great armies are clashing and many brave men are crashing to earth from the air: so perhaps we should pipe down. But this blasted ‘stand to’ at 4a.m. and 8.45p.m. is compulsory on all officers and other ranks …” 4 The end of the Battle of Britain brought a little relief, and with Maurice spending the Christmas period with his wife and daughter Sara, his letters briefly became more upbeat: “It was like old times being together and thank you darling for all your doings. We get together so easily and so completely after these absences. We lose such a number of days in our short existence, but our relationship is fixed and for ever and ever. It’s like knowing and appreciating a good wine without drinking it every day of necessity.” 5 By the Spring of 1941 it was clear that the War would last for many more months and, although Maurice had agreed to assist in the organisation of fund-raising games for an Army side, his military duties and family responsibilities took precedence. Indeed, his paternal duties grew as Elizabeth gave birth to a second child – a boy called Simon – and he was very grateful for the willing hands of his mother-in-law in tending to his young family. During 1943 Elizabeth’s mother passed away, and in his letters home, Maurice tried to comfort his grieving wife: “You will have to be brave and strong for you are facing a new existence. She was your anchor far more than I can hope to be till this war is over. …If I had lived as good a life as your mother, I should not be so afraid to die.” 6 Prophetic words indeed as events of 1944 unfolded, by which time Maurice had risen to the rank of Major and was involved in various manoeuvres for Operation Overlord. Based at a seafront hotel in Eastbourne, he saw many of the 5,000 or so ships – both great and small – that were taking part in this vast and quite hazardous exercise. Shortly after D-Day on June 6 th , Maurice and