- Contributed byÌý
- Isle of Wight Libraries
- People in story:Ìý
- Margaret Whitaker (previously Munday)
- Location of story:Ìý
- Portsmouth, Hampshire; Ryde, Isle of Wight
- Background to story:Ìý
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:Ìý
- A8001901
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 23 December 2005
This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Bernie Hawkins and has been added to the website on behalf of Margaret Whitaker with her permission and she fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.
I think it was 1943. I obtained 48 hours leave and went home to Fairoak, to my parents’ home, for my birthday. I intended returning to the Isle of Wight (where I was a Leading WRNS based at HMS Osborne in Ryde) but as it was high summer my father persuaded me to catch a later train. That saved my life, as when I eventually reached the ferry at Portsmouth (via various buses which had been laid on — and we wondered why?), I found the train I had intended to catch, and at least one other, completely burnt out in Portsmouth Harbour station.
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