- Contributed by听
- Belfast Central Library
- People in story:听
- Agnes Totten
- Location of story:听
- N. Ireland
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A2721106
- Contributed on:听
- 08 June 2004
AGNES IS 87 YEARS OLD. SHE WAS 20 DURING THE WAR. SHE HAD NO BROTHERS OR SISTERS. SHE HAD A SON. SHE HAD MANY JOBS. SHE WORKED IN ROPE WORKS AND THE WEAVING MILL. SHE HAD TO DO THE ROPE WORKS BECAUSE ALL THE MEN WERE AWAY TO WAR. SHE ENJOYED HER JOBS.
SHE GOT EVACUATED TO PORTADOWN FOR TWO WEEKS WITH HER MUM. SHE WENT TO A FARM. SHE SAID TO HER MUM THAT SHE DID NOT LIKE IT There
HER MUM HAD A RATION BOOK. HER MUM MADE A BIG POT OF STEW. EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN THE CUPBOARD WENT INTO THE POT OF STEW. SHE GOT 2os OF BUTTER, 2OZ OF SUGAR AND 2oz OF SALT. SHE GOT 2 SLICES OF BACON AND 2 EGGS. SHE GOT PORRIDGE AND A PIECE OF TOAST FOR BREAKFAST.
WHEN SHE WAS A GIRL SHE PLAYED HOPSOTCH, SKIPPING, ROUNDERS AND RAP THE DOORS AND RUN AWAY. SHE ONCE GOT CAUGHT DOING THAT. WHEN SHE WAS AT SCHOOL SHE WAS PLAYING HOCKEY AND THE PUCK HIT THE HEADMASTER ON THE HEAD. SHE GOT CANED.
HER FATHER WAS IN THE POLICE HE DID NOT NEED A RATION BOOK BECAUSE HE GOT FOOD IN THE BARRACKS. SHE DID NOT LIKE THE AIR RAID SHELTERS. THEY WERE DAMP AND DARK. THEY WERE VERY DUSTY BECAUSE NO ONE CLENED THEM. SHE HAD A CURFEW FOR 8 PM.
THERE WERE TABLES AND CHAIRS FOR D-DAY AND THEY WERE PAINTED RED, WHITE AND BLUE. THE MOTHERS MADE BUNS AND LEMONADE. THE CHILDERN WERE SINGING AND HOLDING UNION JACK FLAGS.
AS TOLD TO KIRSTIE DEVLIN 28-05-04
Agnes Totten was 20 when World War two broke out. She worked in a weaving factory and rope factory.
Agnes was evacuated from her house to Portadown for two weeks and she did not like it.
The food Agnes liked best was stew. In the mornings she got porridge. Fruit was the rarest thing they got.
When Agnies was young she saw a Spitfire go down into the sea in Bangor.
Agnes liked to play Hopscoth, Skipping, rounders, two balls and rap the doors and run. Once when Agnes was playing rap the doors and run she got caught and the neighbour chased her and her mates. When Agnes was playing hockey the puck went thought the window and hit the master on the head. The secretary brought her in and asked her what happened she told her and Agnes started to cry because she thought she killed him but she didn鈥檛.
As told to Janine Connor
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