大象传媒

I better begin by saying how I came to be in London during the Blitz.

I was born in Valparaiso, Chile, in 1922. Scottish father, Chilean mother, lived and went to an English school in Peru, Panama. Spoke Spanish at home. After many school holidays in Chile my father decided to take us to England for a holiday (1933) but things went wrong and we stayed.

I went to school and left at 14 years old (usual age) and worked in an office in London until war broke out. Through office friends I met my husband who also lived in the Police Quarters (6+ army soldiers) inside Woolwich Arsenal. He was an engineer and worked in the Woolwich Arsenal. My parents stopped me travelling to London because of air-raids, trains, etc. Got a job with a local firm. When the siren blew we all went down to the shelter (spent so many hours there I embroidered a tapestry firescreen). In the evenings met my boyfriend, ignored air raids and went dancing and to the pictures. Buses only, no car. Worst night being caught in an air raid in Lewisham (buying material for my Mother to make my wedding dress, before coupons started). Had to stay all night, no way of getting home. Also the worst raid in the city, the blaze could be seen from Erith.

As soon as war broke out my future husband rushed to join the Army but he was in a reserved occupation so joined the Home Guard, as well as working a 7-day week. After we were married he volunteered to go to India to help set up munition factories but refused the job unless I went too. We sailed for India in 1942 from Glasgow in a convoy with three Destroyers looking after us. We arrived in Freetown, Africa and, as our cargo was important, 3 ships went on with only one Destroyer looking after us. We were told to look out for people who had been torpedoed. At midnight I heard the 'abandon ship' siren (separate cabin from my husband) and followed his instructions to get up on deck, forgot my clothes and Panic Bag and was first one on deck with only my nightie on. No one in charge, electricity not working, my husband arrived and helped lower the life-boat, everybody got away in half an hour, the ship went down, we expected to be machine gunned by the German Sub but it was our Destroyer 'BRILLIANT' who came to pick us up as they knew there were women and children on board. (They don't usually do that but they took a chance as they could have been torpedoed too).

It was 3 days before we arrived in Pointe Noire, French West Africa, stayed there for 3 weeks before being picked up by the 'Alcantara' who took us to Cape Town. Waited there for 3 months (not much money or clothes), then travelled to Durban for a ship to Bombay. R.A.F. personnel, no room in lifeboats for civilians.

We went by train from Bombay to Calcutta, just before Christmas and we were looked down on by the British who still wore evening dress to go to the cinema. It was 1942.

My husband enjoyed his work and teaching Indian engineers helping the war effort. We were sent to Cawnpore, another factory, for the duration of the war. (We did not know how long it would last). Our only mail was photo-air-letters. We had air-raids in Calcutta and also a famine while there but it was an experience I'll never forget.

Our ship that sank was the "Moymidon" and all that were saved contributed to a plaque for the destroyer that saved us "Brilliant".

This story was entered by Terry Greenwood on behalf of Mrs A.S. Knight who has given her written permission so to do.

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