Page 23 - The Spirit of Christmas 1940

The Spirit of Christmas 1940

he wandered in when I was putting the cart away. Maybe that’s
what he meant, maybe he had seen it happen. The pub, I mean.”

Jimmy wasn’t sure. “Maybe, I’d still like to know who he
is though. You know, just to make sure. He’s probably well
meaning and very nice but I couldn’t forgive myself if anything
happened. If he comes back, I’ll have a quiet chat with him.”

For a second Rose wondered if Jimmy’s motives were more out
of jealousy rather than curiosity. But she dismissed them. After
all, emotions were running high after last night. She tried to
reassure him.

“I know he didn’t mean any harm. He just seemed sad. Besides,
it didn’t seem like he had any interest in the likes of us.”

Jimmy backed down a little “Well, ok but I’ll keep my eye on
him if he comes back.”

The soldier would return. He would keep coming back as long
as the war raged. He was the Spirit of Christmas 1940. The spirit
of a lost soldier of the Great War. In life, his name was Rifleman
William Snow. A tall, strapping Staffordshire lad who, like so
many of his friends joined up to serve King and Country and like
so many, fell during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. His spirit
had been sent back to comfort the families of the lost. Those
that waited in vain for their loved ones to arrive at the station.
Although, to the families he could not be seen, his reassuring
presence was always felt and for some reason, part of the families
pain would be transfered to the soldier. It was a mystery as to why
Rose and Jimmy could see him even though they were unaware of
who he was. Maybe that’s just the way he wanted it. Only time
would tell.

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