Avenue at War Part II

Jim has another bad experience when his sons Maurice (Boxer) and Bernie take part in the Dieppe Raid. They are missing and he believes them killed because the raid was a fiasco. He knows they don't usually take prisoners in that sort of attack. Philippa, daughter of Edgar Frith's second wife, has moved to the Avenue (her stepfather and mother having gone to Wales to live and run a small antique shop) and she has fallen in love with Bernie and she believes that Bernie is safe. Jim is not so optimistic, and is very depressed at the idea of never seeing his boys again when he had become closer to them.. But news comes that both of them are alive. Bernie was seriously injured in the raid and Boxer stayed behind to take him to a German post. He surrendered to the Germans, who took Bernie away for medical attention. He lost an arm, but survived and Jim has hopes that the Germans will exchange him when he has recovered. Boxer has been sent to a POW camp but is alive and well. Some time later, Bernie is repatriated and invalided out of the army, and he and Pippa marry, in a double wedding with Esme and Judy. He struggles with his disabilty, but they buy a garage and he finds he can do a lot of work with only one arm. Boxer finds he quite enjoys being in a POW camp and taking part in Goon baiting, or playing pranks on the German guards. He has always followed his brother's lead and now he is having to be independent and make decisions for himself, and he likes it. However the war isn't over yet and in 1945, Jim suffers yet another terrible event. The Avenue experiences a doodlebug, or V2 attack, which causes massive damage and death. Harold had been sent home from work one day, as he had been very tired out. His boss, knowing what an asset he is to the firm, tells him to go home and to take 2 weeks off and have a holiday. He was at home, having a cup of tea and planning his little holiday, meaning to visit Judy in Devon. He is in the garden with Louise and her husband, when the bomb struck and Jack and Lou were killed. Jim comes home to finds his part of the street in ruins and there is already a long list of the dead. Then he learns that Harold is there, alive but with terrible injuries. He is sent to hospital where he is ill for a long time, having broken both legs and his ribs. Jim has become very close to his friend and is afraid that he too may die. His home has been destroyed and he has lost Louise. In addition, Edith's simple minded sister Becky was hit and killed so she is now a woman in her fifties and all alone. Several neighbours were also killed and their homes flattened. After the first shock, Jim realises how much he relies on Edith and Harold and he asks her to marry him. They have been friends for over 20 years and turn to each other.