Buffer's Story.
Brisbane, Queensland.
It was two days after the funeral. Pete was on compassionate leave, having flown home for his father's funeral. He was alone with his mother in his childhood home, helping her sort out his father's belongings. He and his mother had packed up his father's clothes, and Pete was going through the bottom of the wardrobe, clearing out shoes, when he saw a little compartment in the wardrobe floor. Curious, he knocked on the lid of this when he heard the hollow sound. He lifted the small trapdoor of the compartment and put his hand in. He pulled out a small, carved wooden box.
"Mum," he said, "Look at this." He brought the little box over to his mother.
She said, "I have never seen this before. Never. Where did you find it?"
Pete said, "I found it in a compartment under Dad's shoes. He must have hidden it away. Let's take a look at it, shall we?"
Together they walked out to the kitchen. Pete placed the box on the table and his mother opened it. Inside, they found some medals, some old photos, a diary and a small leather-bound journal. The journal was titled in faded Polish lettering. Pete passed it to his mother. Putting on her glasses, she translated out loud for her son's benefit.
"Jan Andrzej Tomaszewski. Service Record. Boys' Rifle Brigade."
Pete said, "It's not a journal, Mum. He was in some sort of military service, like Army cadets."
His mother picked up the photos. One showed a picture of three boys, in shabby clothing. She turned the photo over, again translating, "Jan, Wojchiech, Jakub, Warsaw, 1938." Another photo showed a couple, obviously husband and wife. The man was in a Polish military uniform. On the back of the photo was written "Piotr and Maria Tomaszewski, Warsaw 1938."
"That's your father with his brothers, William and Jack. And these are your grandparents. You are named for your grandfather, Peter."
"Mum, why did Dad hide these? Why haven't we ever seen them?"
"Your father had a lot of secrets, Peter. He kept things from us. Things he was trying to forget."
Pete picked up the little diary. It was in Polish, in a youthful hand. The ink had faded, but his mother could still read it. Pete turned the kitchen light on as night made its presence felt, and his mother opened the diary.
Warsaw 3rd September 1939. It's been two days since the Germans invaded. Papa has gone into the Army. I have joined the Boys' Rifle Brigade. I told the leader Jozef that I am twelve years old. You have to be over twelve years old to join. I am ten years old. I am tall for my age.
28th September 1939. The Germans occupy our city. The bombs kept dropping until the surrender. We learn that Papa was killed in an air raid. They are taking the Jews away. Mama is in the underground. She is trying to help our neighbours. They are Jewish. She is hiding them in our cellar. We steal extra food for them to eat.
June 18 1940. There is no more Poland. The Soviets occupy one half, the Germans the other, including Warsaw. There is little food in the city. Each night Jozef leads us on food raids. My brothers are always hungry. I must feed them. I am the man of the family now. Jozef teases me. He says I do not have the voice of a man yet.
Pete's mother read on. They learned about life in Warsaw under Nazi occupation, the treatment of the Jews, and the food raids. The boyish hand records how he must hide this diary, he could be shot if it was discovered. The diary tells of round-ups and execution of Poles, and others being sent to camps. He and his brothers are targeted for "Germanisation" - to eradicate the Polish culture. He tells of his mother, still in the underground taking his small brothers into the forest, where there is a small group of the Polish Resistance operating against the Nazis. He, Jozef and other Boys' Rifle Brigade members go into the forest as well. "I now have the voice of a man," Jan writes.
Pete and his mother learn of the Warsaw uprising; Jan's mother is caught by the Nazis while trying to smuggle her Jewish neighbours and other Jews away – he never sees her again.
Jan tells of the Nazis' increased aggression against the Poles, both Jewish and non-Jewish. More are shot or taken away.
The diary records nothing more until the Warsaw Uprising. The Polish Resistance group becomes part of the Polish Home Army. Jan, now 15 years old, along with Jozef and other teenage boys join this army.
August 1, 1944. We follow the Red Army's directive and attack the Germans in the city. I shot and killed three German soldiers. I was glad to do so.
October 2 1944. It is over. The Red Army did not help us. We have no supplies left. The Nazis are coming to disarm us and send us to camps. Jozef tells me to get out of the city and go back to the forest and my brothers. He tells me to get away from Warsaw. The commanding officer awarded both Jozef and me two medals: the Home Army Cross, and Warsaw Uprising Cross. He tells us we fought like men. I have to leave my rifle. Jozef goes back to the forest with me that night. I wake my brothers and tell them we have to leave. Now. Jakub starts crying. I tell him to shut up or the soldiers will find us.
Jan's diary tells of a long journey. He steals food from farms to feed himself and his brothers. Wojchiech doesn't speak. Jakub is undernourished. They hitch rides on trucks, and wagons. They are caught stealing food by a farmer, and he and his wife take the boys in. Jan works in the fields with the farmer, and his kindly wife feeds the orphaned family. Jakub regains his health, and Wojchiech will only speak to the farmer's wife; he hides whenever he sees the farmer. Jan speaks of the war finally ending, and the Red Cross traces his family members and find his mother's sister living in Krakow. Jan goes to the address only to find she has gone. He returns to the farm and the boys live there.
The diary speaks of how Jan decides to apply for emigration to Australia under the Displaced Refugees' program. There is a work opportunity in Australia building a new Hydro-Electricity system in Australia's Snowy Mountains. Jan is considered a good candidate, and emigrates in 1948. His brothers join him in 1955.
Jan's diary finishes in 1974, when the Snowy Mountains project has completed. He has saved enough money to buy a home in Sydney, and he marries Margrethe Broz.
The party onboard Swaino were totally spellbound by Buffer's story. Buffer said, "Dad died when I was in Recruit School. He didn't like me joining the Navy; he was distressed that a son of his would take up arms. I know why now. He always looked more like a grandfather than a father, he seemed so old. Mum used to say that he didn't say much; he would come to life when his brothers and families visited. She said that she knew him much better after we read the diary. I got to know Dad through those pages."
Gregory spoke. "I remember giving a lecture to my second-year History students at the university, on Poland under occupation in the Second World War. Your father went to hell and back, Peter."
"Yeah. I got teased at school because of my surname. I thought that was bad until I read Dad's diary and learned what he went through. My dad was a bloody hero, and I never knew it."
Charge said, "Do you still have his medals?"
"Sure do, and the box with all his memories in it. When the twins are old enough, I'll read the diary to them, and tell them what a legend their grandfather was."
"So you should, mate," Charge said. "I owe you a slab, Buff, that story did eat my conspiracy theories for lunch."
There was a heavy cloud build-up approaching from the north-east. Buffer said, "That's a storm coming if ever I saw one. Righto 2Dads, stow the BBQ and up anchor. We'd better get back."
Mike was sitting quietly next to Gregory, who asked, "are you alright, son?"
"Sure, Dad, I was just thinking." All these things I'm finding out about my former crew. I wonder if Kate knows about this stuff?
Buffer expertly brought Swaino about, in preparation for laying her alongside. As he did so, he and all onboard noticed Robert standing on the wharf. With him was a girl in her early teens, with long curly light brown hair. The girl smiled; Mike's eyes misted over, and Charge stared, mouth open. Then he said,
"My God. Chloe Blake."
