大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Jenny Ford on behalf of Dave Thompson and has been added with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I can remember men dressed in 'Hospital Blue' - a mid blue - a special uniform for those in hospital. This was in Letchworth. We'd see them on the bus. In the grocers shop the produce was loose, to be picked up and put into a bag and one chap had no hand - all bandaged up, as a young kid that frightened me a bit.

My mother worked at British Tabulating Machines in Tab Close, Icknield Way. I didn't know at the time but some of the parts she made I now know would have been used in the 'Bombe' machines that they used at Bletchley Park. My grandmother looked after me whilst my mother went to work.
There is a picture of the 'Bombe' machine in 'WAAF' a Shire publication.

My father was in the Royal Artillery, mostly in Orkney Islands so I didn't see much of him. I didn't really know him at the time. He went over on the second wave of 'D' Day.

There were lots of people and lights on during our night VE Celebrations in our road. I wasn't used to lots of light at night. I remember being taken to see the 'Spirella' building that was floodlit. There was dancing in the streets, quite a 'to do'.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.