This is the story of my grandparents Harold and Lilian Southam and their daughter Pearl (my mother) who lived in Elstow, Bedfordshire England.



It was Christmas Day in 1943 (maybe 42) and Harold had walked the 2miles into the town of Bedford for a drink before Christmas lunch with his family, 4 young American men also having a drink walked over to Harold and asked if he knew of anywhere they could get a Christmas dinner, Harold replied that with it being Christmas Day everywhere would be closed but they would be welcome to walk the 2 miles with him and join him, his wife Lilian and daughter pearl for lunch. Harold then called a neighbour who had a phone to go and get Lilian so he could inform her that she needed to put on some more veg etc as 4 American airforce men (all strangers) were coming home for Christmas lunch. The 4 strangers turned out to be S/Sgt Stephen Evanuska (Steve) (31168085), T/Sgt Edward Zmiejko (3366988), T/Sgt Bernie Curran (37461336), S/Sgt Lloyd Smith (14151656) they were posted at kimbolton in the 379th Bomber group, 526 bomb squad who’s plane was the Elsie Mae. They struck up a great friendship and when ever they had time off they would be visiting Harold and Lilian. In 1945 they returned home and subsequently a large number of food parcels arrived from America as a thank you to Harold and Lilian.



Harold and Lilian went on to have another daughter they called Stephanie after Steve. Harold and Lilian kept in contact with Steve and Eddie and visited each other on a couple of occasions over the years until Harold and Lilian died, their daughters Pearl and Stephanie continued contact until Steve and Eddie died in 2002 and 2005 respectively.



Unfortunately we don’t have my contact with their families.



I think this is such a beautiful story, which i feel would be sad if ever forgotten in history.