大象传媒

This story is submitted by Terry Ransome, a volunteer at the British Schools Museum.

I was doing some family history research and came across a short 鈥榮tory鈥� entered into a competition to record wartime memories, by my aunt Dora Carver. This was in 1983 when she was 79 (and two years before she died).

It covers both World Wars. Words in ( ) are mine.

鈥淚n World War 1 I was a schoolgirl. My father was a farm bailiff and exempt from National Service. I went to a knitting class some evenings to help knit for the forces. When I was 13 years old (in 1917) I had to get a form from the Education Officer for permission to leave school as the family was growing and mother was very busy and I was well educated and promised to study. The permission was granted so I had to look after the children and help a bit on the farm. My eldest brother (Victor Carver) had to enlist when 18 (in 1919) and my sister (Marjorie) went to domestic work for extra money. Towards the end of the War we had to employ some German prisoners on the farm and my younger brother (Gordon) had to escort them from the Railway Station and see them back in the evening.

鈥淚n the Second World War I was working in a sub Post Office. The men had to join up so I had to stay there. I went in for the Post Office exam as Counter Clerk and Telegraph and passed and my appointment was in London, where I saw some terrible sights especially after a raid. I did fire-watching most nights. I remember handing out the Kings shilling to the young men who had to enlist. I did not get home very often.

鈥淭here were nine children in our family, five boys enlisted and came home. I thank God for it all.鈥�

Aunt Dora was an active member of the ARP - and Civil Defence for some time after the war too.

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