The Hunger Winter

By Willy Dirks, Thornloe, Ontario, Canada
Date mid 1980’s
Excerpt from her book she wrote of her life.

During the hunger winter, on February 8, 1944, our little Luke (Lucy) made her entrance into the cold world. She took a long time in coming.
Anne and Liz (Elsje) were thrilled about their new sister. Liz’s first words, while petting the little baby, were: "That has no hair!", and indeed Lucy was bald like an eagle.
She was such a cute baby in her pink and white cradle, however the poor little tyke could not get enough food. She became the most pitiful little baby, always crying, always hungry and her little arms and legs looked like purple sausages from the cold. She had big blue eyes, that always showed fear and her hair did not
One time Elsje was ill and we had to call the doctor. Our doctor was not home so a strange doctor came. Lucy was crying in the playpen. She was 8 months old and did not even make an attempt to sit up. The doctor looked after Elsje, and then looked into the playpen. One look and this total strange doctor said: "I have kept one bottle of cod liver oil for an emergency. This is an emergency!"

Andy and Perry

By Willy Dirks, Thornloe, Ontario, Canada
Date mid 1980’s
Excerpts from her book she wrote of her life.

ANDY AND PERRY

The first Canadians we ever met became fast friends. Art (Dirks) came home one day and had met these two fellows, who asked him if he knew somebody willing to se 11 them his or her camera. "Of course," Art had said. "Come to my home tonight and I will have a camera for you." Where to get one was now his problem. He talked my uncle into selling his camera.
Would they come? Promptly at 7.00 p.m. 2 Canadian soldiers arrived on 1 bicycle. I invited them in for tea. Tea??? It was dried linden leaf tea without milk or sugar. We chatted for a while and learned their names and where they came from. Andy from Medicine Hat and Perry from Abbotsford B.C. They politely declined the tea.
With the camera they disappeared together on the one bike. Imagine our surprise when they returned an hour or so later, carrying a large bag with .... Real tea, canned milk, sugar, jam and real coffee. We could not believe it.
They both worked in the army kitchens. From that moment on I would receive a call on Friday mornings. "Willy, what do you need this week?" They delivered my order promptly on Friday night and stayed for the weekend. We introduced them to the neighbours and had many a nice evening.
One weekend they went to Brussels for a change of scenery and came back with a doll for each of the girls, a bottle of cognac for Art and a box of chocolates for me.
They stayed in the area for about four months, and then were allowed to go home to Canada. For a long time we stayed in touch with them. They were the nicest young men to meet.
Life was getting normal again. We had gas and electricity again and heat for the winter. Our only worry was: "No word from Indonesia yet".