Lives in Cricket No 16 - Joe Hardstaff

conscientious. He has outstanding abilities. He was selected for a commission, but preferred to stay with his old unit.’ On arriving in England, Joe disembarked on 29 October and was granted more than three months leave. His unexpected and unannounced arrival back home in Kirkby-in-Ashfield in uniform was a complete surprise for his wife and family; not everyone was pleased to see him and his wife was shocked by his appearance. Joe, having lost nearly three stones in weight since 1942, looked gaunt and tired and was a shadow of his former self. Even so, his wife was delighted to have him back home, but his four children were very wary of this ‘stranger’ who had suddenly appeared in their lives. The youngest daughter, Patricia, who had been born after Joe’s departure for Burma, would have nothing to do with him and would leave the room whenever he came in. The scars of war would, though, take some considerable time to heal. 86 Second World War, 1939-1945