In Search of Peace: Fear in Liverpool, England…1940 Escaping to Cleveland, Ohio

By Diane Herak

This is a story about a family in Liverpool, England. The
timeline commences in February 1939, continuing on through
the years…years that are filled with hope, love and memories that
will follow, and often burden the children throughout their lives.

The plot continues as the family relocates to America, the
children grow up and pursue their chosen paths in life, with
endless thoughts of so many years of guidance by their parents.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664136168

Diane Herak

I am a resident of Westlake, Ohio,the Mother of eight adult children, seventeen grandchildren and two great-grandsons. Other than being an author, I am a successful artist and poet. I have traveled to wonderful places, both in the United States and other countries, and I have written about these places in my previous books.

Book preview

IN SEARCH OF PEACE

Fear in Liverpool, England…1940

Escaping to Cleveland, Ohio

Diane Herak

Copyright © 2020 by Diane Herak.

www.artistgramadianeherak.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 10/09/2020

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

821034

CONTENTS

From the Author

Dedication

Introduction

Jumping Ahead

Chapter 1 Anticipating Tragedy

Chapter 2 Reflections of Titanic and More

Chapter 3 The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company

Chapter 4 Evacuation & The Plan

Chapter 5 The RMS Lancastria

Chapter 6 Ellis Island- Statue of Liberty

Chapter 7 St. Nicholas Parish and New Home

Chapter 8 The Great Depression and the I.L.A.

Chapter 9 Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company

Chapter 10 News from England

Chapter 11 Catastrophic Events

Chapter 12 Moving to a New Home

Chapter 13 Gloria’s Illness

Chapter 14 East Ohio Gas Company Explosion

Chapter 15 The Death of a Giant

Chapter 16 The Nervous Breakdown

Chapter 17 The Detention Home

Chapter 18 New Beginnings

Chapter 19 The Mental Asylum

Chapter 20 Marymount Hospital

Chapter 21 Years Gone By

Chapter 22 Gloria, the Mixologist

Chapter 23 Wedding Plans

Chapter 24 Seeing Liverpool

Chapter 25 Life Goes On

Chapter 26 Mary’s Release

Chapter 27 Losing Mother

Chapter 28 Albert & Elise

Chapter 29 Gloria’s Coffee Shoppe

Chapter 30 Eric’s New Venture

Epilogue

Explanation of Characters In Order of Appearance

FROM THE AUTHOR

This is my first novel, following nine travel adventure stories, an autobiography (penned with my sister, Rosemary) and a tell-all casino book.

The adventure books, Hare ‘N There, Adventures of Rosie Rabbit, is a series of my personal travel experiences. The stories take the readers to Paris, Egypt, Mackinac Island, Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexican Riviera, Nassau, Gettysburg and New Mexico.

These books are for readers of all ages, with extensive information about each location, including many photographs, personally taken by me. Many of the books have over one hundred images.

My decision to write these books was for my eight children, seventeen grandchildren and two great-grandsons. I knew that as my family grew larger, these books would be an everlasting memory of the places that I had the privilege of visiting, then writing about.

People and their customs around the world are amazing to observe and experience. There is so much love of humanity…all one must do when in their country, is to search it out and accept their traditions and way of life.

I have been a resident of Ohio all of my life, enjoy writing along with the pleasure of being an artist. My paintings are on the covers of all of my books, also displayed in my daughter’s design shop for many years.

The idea for this novel was due to my researching of dreadful experiences that thousands upon thousands of families suffered during WWII, including all of the wars, domestic as well as worldwide. For what, to kill, imprison, occupy and have the power to overtake another’s possessions? Terrible history of groups of terror. Still, lessons have not been learned, not on domestic levels, or global.

Do enjoy reading this book, though fiction, at times, does parallel my life growing up in Ohio.

DEDICATION

My first dedication is to God, the giver of all LIFE…always giving in a way where abundance and truth can be found. For my existence, my family and the every-day miracles that I am so aware of…I am grateful.

I next dedicate this book to my eight children…

Deborah, Peter, Wally, David, Mark, Dale, Amy and Christopher.

To my seventeen Grandchildren and two Great-Grandsons,

I am more than pleased that you are all

in my sphere of existence…

with my continual prayer that you will realize the value of:

compassion, understanding, forgiveness, and unconditional love.

Very little is as important as those four words, for by practicing and living these pearls of wisdoms extraordinary events will become ordinary in your lives.

A loving dedication to my parents, Nick and Mary. Their names are in this novel as the parents. I am certain that they would have handled the difficult situations in life, similar to the characters in my book. They experienced such trauma when they arrived in America, with much of their lives portrayed in my autobiography, Silver and Gold, the true story of two survivors.

To my sister, Rosemary, who is the co-author of our autobiography. At age 14, she took the place of our Father and Mother when they were taken from us. We each married and between us have twelve children, twenty-nine grandchildren, and so far…seven great-grandchildren.

She has always encouraged my creative abilities and continues to do so, even though we live on opposite sides of the country.

Next on my list to remember and dedicate this book to is My Jimmy…my soulmate, companion and Love of my Life.

He showed up at the perfect time, bringing me companionship and quickly removing the weight of loneliness from my shoulders. He is such a joy to be with, offering smiles and laughter, 24/7.

When difficulties and heartache show up in your lives…Always…

Let Go and Let God. Give him your problems, he does not ever sleep, but will be at your side throughout your lifetime.

Blessings and Love to each and every one of you…Far beyond Forever.

Introduction

This is a story about a family in Liverpool, England. The timeline commences in February 1939, continuing on through the years…years that are filled with hope, love and memories that will follow, and often burden the children throughout their lives.

The parents, Nick and Mary, are honest, hard working citizens, who can trace their heritage back to England, many years. They now live with one goal in mind, to protect the children along with emphasizing the importance of family and value of prayer. Mary has always believed that all things have a purpose, that even horrific situations occur with the outcome being a glimpse of nirvana and understanding the whole picture.

Nick, who was fourteen years of age when WWI erupted in July 1914, remembers the frantic discussions and fearful anticipations of what was to come from the enemy. The ending came four years later, on November 11, 1918 his eighteenth birthday.

He now is bewildered with the realization that he must explain to his three children about the war, the war that may be headed to England, known as World War II.

Eric, the oldest was born in 1933, Gloria in 1935, and Albert in 1937. Several years after their third child’s birth, German bombers began their assault on London, the date was September 7, 1940. The area sustained 57 constant nights of bombing.

Read of the events that set in motion the massive invasion by the German army… WWII, that began in September 1939, targeting first, the country of Poland.

The plot continues as the family relocates to America, the children grow up and pursue their chosen paths in life, with endless thoughts of so many years of guidance by their parents.

This is a story of a family’s plight to escape

the approaching invasion of WWII

in 1940…Liverpool, England

The narrative continues, long after the

parents are gone…

Following the paths of the children,

into their adulthood, with powerful

comparison to my life’s experiences.

Diane Herak

JUMPING AHEAD

A Summation of WWII attacks

It was a Friday, September 1, 1939 when Germany invaded Poland, then two days later, from the West, France and Britain experienced their hostile intent. France and Britain declared war on Nazi Germany, the start of World War 2.

Attacking Poland from the East.…Nazis subdivided the country. Hitler declared victory over Poland on September 30, 1939. Of the more than six million Poles who lost their lives to the Nazis and Germans, half were Jewish.

For fifty years, Poland was held in a crunch until the fall of communism.

Back to April 1940, the Nazis attacked Norway, occupied Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands. By June, Paris was invaded.

Britain had the advantage of being separated by the English Channel…but the comfort of that fact did not stay in the hearts of the British people.

September 1940, The Blitz (the name given to the German bombing campaign), was in full force on London…nighttime bombing raids produced more than 40,000 British civilians killed along with 139,000 wounded. The destruction of property was immense.

Being that