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This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Sarah Housden of Norfolk Adult Education’s reminiscence team on behalf of Pat and Archie Toms and has been added to the site with their permission. The authors fully understand the site’s terms and conditions.

This is an account of life for my wife and me during World War Two when we first met as teenagers, and how it changed our lives. In August 1941 at the age of 15 years I joined the Air Training Corps, the 63rd Squadron based at Chingford where I lived. I wanted to join the RAF and the discipline and training were recognised as being an advantage. I fully enjoyed my time as a cadet. I joined the band as a trumpeter and became a sergeant, and every Sunday morning we went on parade through the streets.

As there were two Squadrons — 27F and 63, it was decided to hold dances at our Drill Hall on Saturday nights. It was just dancing to records, but was well attended both by cadets and by many of the local young ladies. The first person I asked for a dance, and I might add I was not very good, was a young lady named Pat (Patricia) who was very patient and very understanding. As the weeks went by, Pat came each week and we danced some more, and though over time I faced some competition for her attention from some of the other cadets, we eventually became engaged. At that time we were both about 16 years old.

Meanwhile Pat had joined the Women’s Junior Air Corps and quickly rose up from Sergeant to being an Officer. If we met on joint parades I finished up saluting her!

When I became 17 years and three months I was able to volunteer for aircrew in the RAF, so I went up to Duke Street Euston in London and signed up as an Air Gunner. After having my medical I was placed on the Volunteer Reserve until call up at 18.

Pat meanwhile changed her job, and under the rules of government legislation brought in because of the war, this left her liable for call up for war work. She was given a choice — work in the Ever Ready factory making batteries, or train to be a bus conductor on trolley-buses for London Transport. She decided to train as a conductor and remained a ‘clippie’ throughout the war, getting up at 4am and walking about 4 miles to the depot to take the first bus out, then walking back the 4 miles after Midnight after running the last bus in. She really enjoyed being a conductor, although the job meant she was always at risk when there was an air raid on. But after a while people just tried to carry on as normally as possible — life had to go on.

In July 1944 I received a letter from the RAF Records Office requesting me to report to the Aircrew Receiving Centre at Cardington for four days. It had been found necessary to review my retention for aircrew duties in the light of changed requirements. The increased superiority in the air resulted in a surplus of people accepted for aircrew and I was consequently transferred to the Army with effect from 18th October 1944. I reported for my army training on 19th October 1944 and eventually joined the Essex Regiment at the beginning of December 1944. After serving with them until April 1945 I was transferred to the Royal Signals in view of my experience in wireless operating. I was eventually discharged on 30th September 1947.

Pat and I have often said we have no regrets about growing up during the war. Although we went through some very traumatic events it made us appreciate all the more the things we have achieved since then. We married on 2nd June 1946 and in 2006 we celebrate our Diamond Wedding Anniversary. We have a daughter aged 58 and a son aged 55, two Grandchildren, and two great Grandchildren. Bringing up a young family in the early 1950’s was not easy, but although we had to watch the pennies it made our marriage that much stronger. Today, looking back on that period of our life together, we both agree that we would not have had it any different.

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