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This story has been written to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ People's War site by CSV Storygatherer Coralie, on behalf of Catherine (Kit) Clifton. The story has been added to the site with her permission, and Catherine fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.

My brother, John Dennis, was a regular naval officer on H.M.S. Dundee, which was in the West Indies in 1939. I had been unwell and John invited me to sail out to the West Indies with his wife and young son of 2 years, to help me recover. We were due to sail on 15th September 1939, but as war had broken out by then, of course, the plans had to be cancelled. Tragically, none of us ever saw my brother again, as John was lost on H.M.S. Dundee in the Battle of the Atlantic in September 1940. This, of course, influenced my decision to join the W.R.N.S. the following year.

My family worked 'Winsor Farm' at Yealmpton, which was rented from the Kitley Estate, and I was living at home when I volunteered for the W.RN.S. in June 1941. I applied, was given a driving test, which I passed, and was accepted. Initially, we had to do two weeks training at Seymour Road in Plymouth, so I went daily from home on the bus. We learnt general information about the Navy, and squad drill etc. which were necessary before we were posted.

My posting was to Bull Point underground ammunition depot at St Budeaux. There were three of us girls posted there, and we were taking over from men, who were needed elsewhere at that time. They were getting £28 a week, but we got £1 a week for the same duties, with the same risks!!! I was quite shaken when a hole in the roof of the depot was pointed out to me, by the men, and I was informed that when it had happened the driver before me had been killed! I also found it very unnerving to drive right through the middle of the depot with all the ammunition surrounding me on all sides.

The depot had absolutely no facilities for women, including toilets, which caused us girls constant problems. After about 3 weeks, thankfully, the situation was improved as we were allowed to eat in the Officers' ante-room at the shore-based H.M.S. Impregnable. However, this involved a short journey each time we went there.

I was drafted to the Dockyard after a short time, and after about 3 weeks there, was given the duty of driving the Admiral's car, 3 days one week and 4 days the next. On the other days I continued with general driving duties. I drove him for 4 years, on and off, and we developed a mutual respect over that time. However, the first day I drove him, he gave me my directions, and having not been in the Navy for long, I had to admit to not knowing which part of the ship I was meant to drive to. He said 'Stop the car' and gave me a short lesson on the terms — bows, stern, port and starboard — and then said to me 'So you will know next time, won't you?'

In my watch, 'A' watch, there were several very 'well-to-do' girls: one girl had regularly ridden with the Queen, and another girl had been bridesmaid to Lord Louis Mountbatten. I was in quarters at Thorn Park with a lot of other girls, and once when the phone rang I answered it and was asked to get a particular W.R.N. The voice on the other end then said to me 'It's Monty, if that's any help'. I was astonished, but it turned out that Field Marshal Montgomery, known as Monty, was the W.R.N's godfather!

Of course, during the war driving at night was very difficult, partly because of the blackout. Only a tiny slit of light was allowed from the headlights, making seeing the roads, and especially the narrow Devon lanes and moors, very tricky. Driving was made much more difficult, at all times, because all the signposts had been removed, in order to confuse the enemy should they ever manage to reach our shores. I also had the experience of driving in the lanes and being hit by an American military vehicle coming in the opposite direction. The Americans were not used to, or impressed by, our narrow lanes and tended to drive round them rather too fast!

During the D-Day landings, I had to do night-duty in the Dockyard. My duty lasted for 2 months, and I was not very keen on this as we worked from 7 pm until 7 am and, of course, everything was totally blacked out. Once again, we women had taken over from men, civilians this time, who were needed in the forces.

Over time I had some interesting experiences. Around the middle of the war, I was ordered to collect the 1st Sealord, who was coming by barge from Mount Wise. I had to collect him in a large 35 HP Humber Snipe, which was very difficult to drive. Thankfully, I arrived 30 minutes early, as the barge bringing the 1st Sealord arrived 25 minutes early! Without mishap, I delivered him to H.M.S. Raleigh; however, as we were early no-one was there to receive him. Panic ensued! Having felt that I had done well having been there early enough to deal with his early arrival, I was very surprised to receive a dressing down, and to be told that I should have been there an hour early!

Later in the war, I had to drive another of the top brass, but of the Chinese Navy this time. I drove the Head of the Chinese Navy and his party and, contrary to normal rules, we were allowed to drive over the quarterdeck of H.M.S. Drake, a shore-based establishment. This was not normally allowed under any circumstances. When he and his party travelled on to Falmouth, however, I was told that a man had to drive them, as they were 'not fit company for a lady'!

Near the end of the war, a new aircraft-carrier was to be launched. Mrs Duncan Sandys, the daughter of Prime Minister, Winston Churchill and his wife, Mrs Clementine Churchill, accompanied by her husband, came down to Plymouth to launch the ship. I drove them whilst they were there, and was actually standing directly behind Mrs Sandys as she pressed the button to launch the ship. It was a wonderful feeling as it slid down into the sea.

On occasion, I had to drive officers of high rank at naval funerals. I would have to drive very slowly behind the gun carriage, which was being pulled by naval ratings. This was very difficult indeed, particularly when I was driving an American car called a Hudson, which didn't like going at slow speed. It was also very confusing, and dangerous, if you had to drive one of two Ford vans at the dockyard. They had their accelerator pedals in the middle!!! Several times that I know of, these vans were in accidents and even ended up being driven into walls. Very nerve-racking!

As I mentioned previously, I started on pay of £1 a week. Later I had a rise to £2 a week and ended up on a mere £2:10s when I was demobbed. This seems even less when you know that we had to pay for our meals out of this money as well. It is not often mentioned, and probably not realised by many, just how poor the wages were for us women in the Navy. However, my time in the Navy was interesting and I enjoyed it.

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