James Alto

Once there was a man called James Alto who had a wife called Alice Alto and two kids. Their names were Jonathan and Jane. One day James said “Let’s go to the jewelry shop and have a look.”

Then suddenly a man came in with a letter about World War Two. It read, “Dear James Alto. You have been selected by the Government to go to War. I’m sorry you have to leave but it’s a matter of life or death.” 

Then James decided to go to Egypt. It was the day to pack for war. Then it was time to go on the boat. Then he went to say goodbye to his family and a man said, “All aboard the boat of war!” He got on the boat and before he left he bought some food for his family. James felt very sad because he was leaving his family and he might not see them again. 

By Jeremiah, Year 6, aged 10

World War 2

Nick lived in Auckland with his mum and dad. Nick had two brothers called Joe and John. They were the same age. They were born in 1895. Nick had brown eyes and has spiky hair. He was tall. Joe had flat hair and he was fast. John had curly hair. Nick, Joe and John all went to Grey Lynn School. Nick was in room 11 and Joe was in room 15 and John was in room 16. Then these people came to their house. They said, “You three have to come to fight in Italy.” The mum and the dad said “NO!” but they said “Yes!” It was three against two so the mum said, “Yes, okay.”  The man said, “Let’s go boys. We need to get you in shape and get you in army clothes.” 

They got in shape. They were skinny. The plane came to get the army people. They fought in Italy and France. Two brothers came back alive but one didn’t. It was Joe. They had a funeral and it was really sad for his twin brother John. They went to visit his brother every day at the cemetery he was only 20 years old.

By Sene, Year 6, 2010  

Geffard Verkerk

Geffard wiped the sweat from his brow and combed his fingers through his blondy brown hair. He had just come back from the Sunday market. He had traded three pails of milk for a sack of flour. Geffard returned home, herded the cows into the shed, drove the herd of three hundred sheep into the barn and put the five hen house doors down. That was when he heard a car horn. Worry filled Geffard's blue-grey eyes as he turned around to find the army Commander stepping out of a army truck. He finished putting the hogs away, wiped his slender fingers on his muddy brown pants and went to ask what was up.
"Er, hmmm...you, Geffard Verkerk, have been commanded to go to war,” recited the commander.

“But I...”

“No buts.”

“What about my kids? They’re only eighteen, I mean who would look after the farm, the sheep, hogs, cows, hens and the horse. They might stuff up, break something, kill something or...”

“What comes first farm or country huh?”

Geffard turned his back muttering,

“Bloody army, bloody General.”

He went to tell his kids who immediately started asking questions about what to do, how to do it and lots more. Soon Geffard was all packed and in uniform. His bulky arms just fit in the sleeves. Then he jumped into the General's car and drove away as the farm disappeared into the distance.  

The missing piece

There was a knock at the door and a big white van pulled up. Mathew Sheppard hopped in, fighting back his tears. He waved at Florence and then the van drove off. Florence picked up her youngest child James and started crying, making her mascara run. She did not know when her husband would be back from war. Florence put James to bed and then sat on the couch looking at her old photos of Mathew, which she then lay on the mantel piece. Florence ran her slim, long, fingers through her golden curly locks and then slowly made her way to bed. 

In the morning, forgetting that her husband was gone, she went to give him a big hug, then remembered he was not there. James walked in and gave Florence a big cuddle, wondering were his dad was and whether he would be coming back. Florence got up with her night gown dragging behind her. Everything was ever so quiet since Mathew had gone. 

Nearly three months had passed and there was no letter from Mathew. Every night Florence sat listening to the war news on her cheap radio. So far New Zealand soldiers had been sent all over, some in Poland, some in France and some to Gallipoli. 

Days went by slowly. Florence played with James trying to forget about her heart ache. While she was doing this Mathew was fighting Germany in Poland, wishing he was at home and missing his wife’s quirkeness.  Florence went to sleep dreaming about their marrige and the day James was born. 

Florence woke up in a sudden start and ran to see if James was still there. Florence walked into the lounge and laid her hand of the photo of James and Mathew. She started crying, wondering were her husband was now. Looking at the time Florence decided to go back to sleep. In the morning Florence walked up to the mail box, her black boots drenched in mud. She opened the mail box thinking there would be none. She peered through and there was a letter jammed in the back. She walked in with the letter in one hand she sat down and reed the letter.

Dear my darling wife and handsome son, 

This may take a while to reach you, so please be patient. I am in Poland.

My friend Jake was in medical care because he got shot in the arm.

I’m all good though. By the time you get this I will probably be somewhere else.

Miss you all deeply and wishing I see you soon

Yours Truly

Mathew 

P..S Sealed with a kiss 

Hope lifted Florence. She finally knew her husband was alive. There was no longer a missing piece in her heart. Florence told James and they were both overwelmed. Letter after letter had arrived, month after month. It felt like Mathew was there all along. 

By Paige , Year 6

The Telegram

‘‘Mum, mummy! Where are you?’’ called young Nicolas from the hallway. Suddenly his sister Ginny ran in,

“Why ar... ar.... are you calling mum?’’ she stammered.

“Telegram for mummy,’’ he said in a sad, dull tone .

There on the floor behind him it lay, looking so innocent. She picked it up, not daring to peek inside the envelope, not wanting to read the horrible truth! Part of her wanted to not give it to her already stressed out mother and part of her wanted her mother Cecil to know.

Three pain staking hours went by like years before her elder brother Simon got home. He was in such a grumpy mood, as usual! He gruffly snatched the letter and, red-faced, slowly read it. A minute that felt like a year went by then a white faced simon left the room. The telegram lay there on the floor. Ginny knew what had happened but she let it sit in her mind like butter on bread,

M.I.A, missing in action. 

By the time Cecil came home, expecting her cheerful children to meet her with open arms, the feeling in the house was of saddnes and grief. Silly Simon couldn’t keep his mouth shut and without even giving her the chance to take her boots off he told her the dreadful news. He blurted it out without thinking of his delivery. With saying a word, her faced changed from joy to despair and she walked deafeatedly to her bedroom where she slumped onto the bed, her soft golden curls slightly messy now, her skin blotchy with pale red spots, her lipstick smuged on her face.

By Charlotte, Room 11, year 6, 2010

Kate Richard

Kate Richard lived in Gisborne. She has one daughter called Liz Richard. She is 8 years old. Kate Richard is 35 and she is married to Jack Richard. She grew up with lots of brothers. She is the only girl in her family. She was an orphan and she doesn’t know who her parents were. Her oldest brother brought her up. She often imagined who her parents were. Jack went to war in 1939 and she missed him terribly. She was abandoned on a farm with her brothers. She moved with her brothers to New Zealand from Britain. 
One day a man knocked on the door a letter. It said: “Its Jack, I’m all right I miss you and my daughter. Are you still alright? love Jack". 
She was in a movie called ‘My Husband is at War’. There is a knock at the door Kate and Liz opened the door.
"Who are you?” she said.
”I’m your injured husband back from the war,”  said her husband.
“We missed you, never leave us again,” 
They took him to the hospital and he was really injured but he was all right because he with his daughter and wife.  

By Aryana, Year 6, 2010

Penelope Sterling

The Letter

Penelope Sterling stood on the balcony of her Hawkes Bay home and worriedly ran her pale, slender hand through her long blonde hair. Charles, her husband, had gone to war eighteen months ago and she didn’t know when or even if he would return.

Every evening after putting her identical twins Ruth and Miriam to bed, she stood out on the verandah and thought about him. On the morning of Tuesday 16th February 1943 she got the twins up and while Ruth made breakfast, she started her farm chores with the help of Miriam.

“Come on Miri, ”Penelope yelled. ”It’s your turn to help me milk the cows!”

“Coming Ma, ”grumbled Miriam as she trundled outside, pulling on a jacket as the cold wind whipped her auburn curls around her beautifully-shaped white face.

“Come on, the faster you get it done the quicker you can get inside and warm your hands by the fire with a nice hot cup of tea, ”Penelope encouraged her twelve year old daughter.

When Penelope finished milking the cows, she trudged up to the mail box and watched Miriam shuffle slowly up to the house, arms wrapped around her small frail frame and wished Charles was back. Penelope opened the mailbox and expected it to be as empty as it always was. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a rectangle shape lingering silently in the darkness. There was a letter, just waiting to be picked up. She peered in with her light blue eyes perfectly framed by a delicate oval face and lifted it up. With shaking hands she opened the baby blue envelope, not knowing if it would break her heart any further, or fix it back up again.

“Dear my beautiful wife Penelope, ” The letter began. Her heart leapt and she read on.

“I have missed you so much! How are the twins? By the time you get this letter, me and my crew will be in places unknown. Penelope heard a commotion inside with both the twins yelling out , but took no notice and carried on reading. Sorry it has taken this long for my love to reach you and the children. Hopefully the war will be over soon and I will once again be able to hold you in  my arms. Apart from a few injuries, I am just fine. I saw your brother James in the infirmary yesterday with 

a head bandage and a broken leg. The nurses ensure me that he will make a very speedy recovery. Love you lots,Charles.

Penelope’s heart, no longer broken, was beating like a drum as she rushed inside with tears of joy streaming down her face, to show Ruth and Miriam. To her surprise in the door way was Charles. She screamed in delight and ran up the drive to meet him.

Morgan, Year 6 

Bella Jones

Bella Jones left her small classroom at The Central Primary School in London, and she began her walk through Trafalger Square. Bella always admired the large lion statue, she ran her long, slender fingers over it’s smooth, lionish stone. Although Bella tried to live a normal life with her five year old Jo and twelve year old Suzie, Bella dearly missed her husband, Julian, who was off fighting in Eygpt. Suddenly there was a gust of strong wind,     

sending her curly, golden hair fapping around her sad, sullen face. she began her walk home as she needed to cook dinner for Jo and Suzie. It began to rain quite hard, “Oh dear!” Bella thought and ran under a nearby tree. Suddenly there was a loud crash and the tree she was standing under fell over! Bella jumped out of the way, dropping her bag. As she bent down to pick it up she looked in her small hand mirror. Her large, hazel eyes stared back at her and in the back ground, a whole lot of..........NAZI PLANES!!! Bella let out a shrill scream and began to sprint home as fast as she could, not even bothering to pick up her bag. One or two times she tripped over her long, black dress but that didn’t bother her, she needed to see if that loopy housekeeper was looking after her darlings. Bella arrived home in five minutes. Most of the windows were  smashed and the door had fallen off. Things were just as bad inside. Bella’s favourite chess board had snapped in two and her cat, Tibbles, was trying to hide under the sofa, but these things did not bother Bella. she ran down to the cellar and found Jo, Suzie and Sarah, the loopy housekeeper, huddled in a corner. Bella stretched out her long, slender arms to give Jo and Suzie a big hug. They were all alive, unhurt (almost) and back together again.

           

By Lucy, Year 6, 2010, Room11 

Alexander Grant

When Alexander Grant was a little boy he hated war but when war time came he had no choice but to go. He was from Auckland, New Zealand. He lived at number 10 Northland Street, Grey Lynn. He had five brothers and five sisters. His dad went to World War 1 and he came back..... just. Alexander went to Grey Lynn School and after that he worked in his dads barber shop for about ten years. He didn’t want to go to war but he had to. It was war time and after he left Auckland he was based in Italy to fight. He was there for two years, his face was always dirty and he hadn’t had a proper shower for a very long time. His uniform was disgusting. One day when he went in to a new town he hadn’t visited before, he was reminded of Grey Lynn. It even looked like Grey Lynn. The stores the school everything. But it was like a ghost town. When he left he wished that he never went there. One day there was a big battle and he got a bullet in his arm. He nearly died but he didn’t. His arm was dripping but he still fought on. He was very brave, so brave he got the Victoria Cross for his bravery. The little boy who hated war was one of New Zealand’s greatest fighters.

By Ethan, Year 6, 2010, Room 11