a fairground life(WWII)

I wasn't there myself, but I have heard the tales and rumours. Our young men of the time went to fight the Axis forces too. Since this life style we have depends on moving and hard manual labour you might wonder how it continued. I know that many fairs ended up staying where they were at the time war was declared. One of these fairs was in Perth in Scotland. Since the young men were away the woman and older generation kept the fair running. At night the rides were surrounded with black out covers and all the rides and stalls were placed so close together that the covers were draped over one to another to completely trap the light inside. This fair in Perth never missed an opening day in six years (except sundays). How they got the fuel for the generators is a little confusing, but ask no questions and I'll tell no lies! Many of the fairs had to stop traveling as the vehicles were commisioned by the Government to do logging or transport work. My grandad on my fathers side worked in the ICI munitions plant near Dumfries during this time. My gran told me this is where he contracted his bronchitis that brought about his early demise. For years I played with the brass pliers that he 'borrowed' from the plant. My grandad on my mothers side ended up in the infantry and guarded troop ships. At Dunkirk his ship was dive bombed by a Stuka and he was blown off the deck into the water. He was recovered , but was deaf in one ear from then on.He was promoted to sarge , but punched a cowardly officer and was busted down to private again. However he did earn his three stripes again. My wife's grandad was a dispatch rider in WWI and they called him up again in wwII as he knew the roads in France. This time he was caught by the Germans and was a POW until he escaped and was hidden by a French farmer. He got to Dunkirk and was evacuated. When he got to London all he had was the sand in the pockets of his Great coat. He traded it for cups of T while he made his way home to Inverness. He was in his forties now and the local Colonel needed a Batsman. That was the end of the frontlines for Duncan. He called his son after the french farmer that helped him. My uncle "w" was put on logging, I was told this was because he could drive the vehicle and work the winches. In Crieff there was a POW camp for the Italians. My Grans family stayed in a caravan behind the camp until the war was over. There is a hill behind the town. On top of it today there stands a lonely tree. My gran told me that uncle "w" cut all the rest down and missed that one because the gaffer had forgot to paint an x on it. Her other brother "r" was in Burma and Germany. The first day in the army they made him a corporal because he was the only one that could drive the troop transporter. He was blown up by a hand grenade and survived. I called him the bionic man because he had metal pins holding him together from head to foot! He still led an active life after the war. Just a few months ago I went to a funeral of an old showman. There was a military guard of honour to see him off. They told stories of this man that I had never knew. He was in the Royal Engineers and drove a bulldozer on Sword beach during the Normandy landings. His task was to clear tank traps and other obstacles so the troops could land. It must have been hell on earth.
In the Showman's Guild offices there is a telegram from Lord Beaverbrook on the wall. It thanks all the Showmen for their donation of a Spitfire to the RAF. It was called "The fun of the fair".
Apparently the Yanks were good spenders on the fairs, presumably because they didn't understand the currency or could it be a case of spending it because you can't take it with you (if you know what I mean). My uncle "j" had giant chair o planes, he told me that the paratroopers would go on the ride and when it was in full flight they would jump off and roll as they hit the ground!
There are many others that I have not mentioned, like many heroes they will go unsung. What's this got to do with a funfair life? Just a reminder to those who would beleive that we are here today and gone tomorrow that our fore fathers fought and died for this counrty too and we deserve to have an equal standing within it's society.