The Oldbury Writing Group has written and compiled an anthology of both poems and short stories based on different aspects of the second world war. This anthology focuses on people and their experiences rather than the war as a whole. This is to urge us to remember that it was people, not machines that won the war. It was bravery, the persistence and the downright stubbornness that helped us win. Equally, we have to remember it was not just the British and our allies that lost lives. Each person, regardless of colour, race or religion sacrificed just as much as anyone else. This anthology reminds us of how a good sense of humour helped us get through, the love we share for a loved one, our inner strengths and our will to survive. Through the poetry and short stories written by the Oldbury Writing Group, we hope that you finish reading this book with a better understanding of each person's individual war and how they fought to survive. The strength it took to continue and the bravery shown by those who took their last breaths fighting for their country. In this book, we remember them.
About the Author: The Oldbury Writing Group consists of six core members. We are not a large group of people and even though we each have our own reasons for writing, we each have a passion for the written word. Each one of us are published writers. Angela L. Garratt is the founder and leader of the group. She founded it on the 22nd August 2014, and many of the core members are also founding members. Nicole J. Simms has had her stories published on websites such as 50-word Stories and Spinetinglers, where she won second place. Her story 'The Snowflakes of Time' can also be found in Firewords Quarterly magazine's fourth issue. Andy Lines is in the process of drafting his first novel and has performed his poetry at places like Purple Penumbra, at the Barlow Theatre in Langley, West Midlands. Bally Barquer has had her poetry published 'Save Lives', a short anthology that raised money for the British Red Cross. David Edwards writes poetry and short stories for an audience with an eccentric taste. His works can be quite dark and will suit those who enjoy a contemporary view on literature. Percy Eamus is a very philosophical chap and I dare say would have given Aristotle a run for his money had they lived in the same time period. Jackie Adams is a published poet and began writing poems at school. She likes to write poems, short stories, essays, and letters.