An old and sad family story

[Labarum]

I am presently in Cyprus for a few weeks. My wife and I are preparing for our retirement the house she inherited from her aunt. The house was built in 1952 and the old lady threw nothing out. We came across an pair of men's cotton trousers (pants) with a button fly. Sewn to the trousers was a note in Greek written by my wife's Yiayia (Grandmother). It read: "1948 These are John's trousers and they are not to be thrown out"

John was an uncle of my wife. He died in 1948 of TB which went to the bone. The trousers are still in perfect condition. The inside leg measured 33 inches, the waist 30 inches. At 206lb (94Kg) at at a height of 6 ft 3 in my inside leg is 34 and my waist 38 in. My son is 6 ft 4 in has an inside leg of 33 inches and wears 36 in waist trousers. My wife's Uncle John was a very tall, slim man. Exceptionally so for a man born in the 1920s and an ethnic Greek.

John was studying in mainland Greek when World War II broke out - he was stranded a long way his from home in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. Food was in very short supply. As he grew weaker he fell prey to TB and wasted away. He did return to Cyprus at the end of the war, not to live long.

But we do not know why his mother (my wife's maternal grandmother) kept the trousers; and we know not why she insisted they never be thrown out. We never shall.

[Sunny_0ne]

A very moving story.

I appreciate your sharing it with us.

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

thank you for sharing this story. I LOVE researching my family history (genealogy is a hobby of mine).