harry hayes Posted July 20, 2014 Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 This is absolutely true - a story that has been bugging me for nearly 70 years. May or may not be popular but it is a local tale, worthy of mention, if only for the two main characters involved. Bananas only became available in 1946 when Labour declared a National Banana day. This incident was in 1945 -weren't we the lucky ones? BANANA MAN A widow lived a few doors away, During world war two; Her only son, a soldier, She prayed that he'd come through. At last there was good news, Peace at last; he's on his way; With a surprise for all the children, Guaranteed to make our day. It was a funny sight to see him, Banana bunches all round his side; Laughing; sunburned; happy, The whole future opened wide. He distributed this strange fruit, We'd heard of but never seen. His mother stood there laughing, For a moment she was the Queen. There's a cloud to this silver lining, Happiness was not to be; His brain had been affected, An injury no-one could see. Nightly rants full of nonsense, Wrongly judged to be a crime; Then committed to a mental home, Where he died before his time. Not a bad man; nor a mad man, 'Help For Heroes' long before; That poor woman and her son, Two more casualties of the war. Life was most unkind to them, For reasons quite obscure; But I'll never forget the Banana man, His kindness will endure. ----------------------------------------- Thank you for reading Happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted July 20, 2014 Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 Think you're a bit out with the dates harry, bananas were quite popular in Britain in the late 1800's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted July 20, 2014 Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 popular they may have been but during the war years they were unavailable hence the song "yes we have no banananann (help i can rememebr how to start the word but am struggling to stop) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted July 20, 2014 Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 Lovely poem Harry and he sounds like he was a very lovely and happy man, well happy some of the time anyway.It brought a tear to my eye too though as it reminded me of my grandad in a way as he too suffered from the effects of WW2 and was finally sectioned in Winwick years later where he lived for the rest of his life. He was labeled paranoid schizophrenic on his death certificate If only then there had been the understanding and help available that there is now. Very sad for all of them but still... a lovely poem Harry and it's lovely that the Banana Man's memory lives on through your words x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted July 20, 2014 Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 popular they may have been but during the war years they were unavailable hence the song "yes we have no banananann ( The song is usually attributed to a banana shortage caused by blight in Brazil in the 1920's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry hayes Posted July 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2014 No hit parade in those days, but 'yes, we have no bananas' was certainly popular. Thanks Dizzy. I would hope so. Sometimes i think those killed are almost the lucky ones.. In the thirties there were so many crippled people still about from the first world war. Best wishes Happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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