G. H. BRIGHT

The Outlook is Bright

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Outlook-Bright-G-H-ebook/dp/B00HRJAL38/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1403431844&sr=1-1&keywords=the+outlook+is+bright

 

Based on True Events, this is the story of how my grandparents met and fell in love admist the war to end all wars.

 

Cover by G. H. Bright from an original picture by

Shirley Hirst at free pictures papaver rhoeas poppy field 221 681

 

Copyright G. H. Bright

 

 

Prologue

A very early January morning. 1917. Ypres battlefield. It had been a

relatively good time for Norman. This actual run across no-man’s land

and the lead up to this moment had gone swimmingly well in fact, all

considered. Norman had dared to hope things might work out well for

him and that he might just live through the hell of war. He and his brother

had even dared think they might come through it without a scratch, which

was quite a thought when all around were dying and injured. Now, lying in

a snow filled icy crater with a large hole in his back and another smaller

one in his chest, Norman wondered at it all. Had he really been so silly as

to think that he would not get a scratch? Was this really it? Was this how he

was to die, in the dark, alone, so far from home and so very, very cold?

 

Chapter 1.

At the outbreak of war in 1914 Norman and his brother Percy, together with their

sister Lillian were living at their parents home within the village of Saint Mary

Bourne near Andover, Hampshire. They had moved there sometime after Percy’s

birth, both boys being born in the hamlet of Woodcutt, just up the road, and Lillian

entering the world at St Mary Bourne as the last of the children. There had been another sister; she was born before Norman, but Mary Ellen died at fifteen months old, the year before Norman was born, and so the three children grew up never knowing their departed sister. Norman James Bright was the big brother, born in 1895 and therefore a full five years older than his brother Percy Ernest Bright. Lillian Ethel was the baby of the family, she being born in the year 1904, by which time the family had settled into life at Jamaica Farm, St Mary Bourne. St Mary Bourne was a local village to Woodcutt and it was well known to the family, their grandparents having been born there, too. Most of the small villages and hamlets around Andover were linked in this family tie way through the generations. At that time of the declaration of war against Germany, Norman had already been working for some time as a hand at the farm, tending horses and livestock. Percy had started work only two years ago in the same role, and he was just as tall and strong, and funny, as his big brother. Leaving school at the ripe old age of fourteen they were already men in their eyes even if to many they were just a couple of young rouges.

  Norman had attained the name of "Blackie" on account of his shock of jet black hair, and his brown eyes with their ever present smile, plus a naughty side to his demeanour all went to making him a somewhat, likeable village rouge. The family trait of a thin top lip didn’t lend itself to a loving smile but the eyes told a very different story. Norman knew the local girls, he had grown up with them, obviously, and he had started to look toward the surrounding villages as young men are want to do, hoping to find a young lady he could sweep off her feet. He did not see a future with the local girls and they did not see one with him, they were friends and nothing more so Norman began to look at other village girls instead. Thinking his life would be of the simple kind and it was more than time to move out from under mother’s apron strings, nature was telling Norman he really should move on. That would be easier said than done, though. Father had died a few years before either lad left school. Norman had been the head of the house ever since. Moving to a better job and better life had not really worked out for them, father tragically dying before his time. If it were not for Norman being able to carry out the tasks father had been set they would have lost the cottage they lived in and been out on the streets. Others rallied round in the earlier days, lending a hand where they could. Norman being just too young and thin, a slip of a boy, could not fill his dad’s shoes to begin with, but even before Norman left school, which was earlier than intended, he was out there working his fingers to the bone to bring in the much needed money. It kept a roof over their heads, too. Norman therefore, could not leave his dear mother to struggle to bring up Lillian alone let alone find the time to really look at girls! Norman saw nothing wrong with the way things were. Life can be cruel and difficult and he had to accept that his life was going to be different to some of his mates, and he did accept that. The family had been dealt a cruel hand but there was little point in bleating about it. His friends were out chasing girls whilst he stayed home, getting logs in and such after a full days work, supporting mother where he could and getting Percy to toe the line. He wished dad had not died but there was nothing he could do about that so, after a short time of respectful reflection and sorrow, Norman set to and got on with it. Stepping up to the plate was what he had to do and, he figured he would keep doing it.

  

 

         Purchase on Amazon and Smashwords via buttons on paperback and/or e-book pages using the drop-down menu above.