Memories of a Lifetime

InMemories of a Lifetime, John G. Morland tells through his memories his life’s progress, beginning as a Leeds lad from a typical Yorkshire city upbringing and schooling in the 1930s, through the divorce of his parents in his early teens, to what he thought would be a military career. That career started with his entering the British Army at barely 15 years of age as an apprentice tradesman on a three-year armourer apprenticeship. During that time he won a War Office award, which enabled him to study full time at London for an engineering degree.

After obtaining a commission and serving in an armoured division in Germany, the author decided to terminate his “military career” in favour of a civilian career in engineering. Most of it took place in mainland Europe, nearly nine years of which were spent in Switzerland, followed by nearly 30 years in Italy. He acquired fluency in German and Italian and, combining engineering and management abilities, he became managing director of companies in each of these countries.

At the conclusion of his military service, he married a German lady, Reni, who shared his life for more than 30 years before she eventually succumbed to cancer in Italy in 1988. Two and a half years years later John married his cousin Jill, who shared his latter years in Italy and now shares his retirement in Norfolk.