大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Simon Falla and has been added to the web site on behalf of Dorothy Edmonds with her permission and she fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

I was born and brought up on the Isle of Wight. In 1940, aged 22, I joined the ATS. I was initially posted to Northampton to carry out my basic training.

Eventually I was posted to Northern Ireland. I recall the long train journey from Wimbledon, where two of our train's carriages were bombed, via Birmingham Snow Hill, where the WVS gave us tea, up to Stranraer in Scotland where we caught a ferry.

I had always said that I wanted a job that got me out in the open air, and I ended up working on the predictor equipment that guided the ack ack guns. It was my job to instruct the officer in charge of the guns when and where to fire.

Later in the war, in 1944 when preparations for D day were underway, we were invited by some Americans to a variety show at the Royal Opera House. During the show we were invited up on stage and the band played 'This Is The Army, Mr Jones', a popular tune at the time. Then it was announced that somebody was coming on stage to thank us. It was none other than the famous song writer Irving Berlin. I remember him being a very small man. I was presented with flowers and chocolates, or candy as the Americans liked to call it. As we walked off stage the band played 'Thankyou For Everything.'

After the show we were invited for a drink and I was presented with a hamper and the promise that we would be made very welcome if we ever visited America.

I have many fond memories of the time and am proud that I did my bit for the war effort.

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