大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Plymouth Library Services on behalf of Doris Kidger. The author fully understands the terms and conditions of the website

I was 12 when war broke out. Our farm was in the in the village of South Petherwin, near Launceston in Cornwall and 25 miles from Plymouth. I remember being alarmed when a searchlight with a small number of soldiers manning it was installed in a field just opposite our house. At times the searchlight used to shine in my bedroom, and I used to hide under the bed clothes.

The sky over Plymouth was very red from the fires during the air raids, and some bombs fell on our village.

We came under the War Agricultural system. Our farm was regularly inspected, and we were told which acres were for ploughing and which for growing corn. Of course, we did better than people in the towns, as we could shoot rabbits and have some eggs and milk, and we grew plenty of vegetables.

Making cream and butter was strictly forbidden. The village policeman was always coming to have a chat, and I remember once we were having tea and Mum had made a little cream, which she had to sit with hidden under her apron!

We could kill one pig a year; the butcher used to come and do this. Our bacon ration for a year had to be given up. The farmers used to have a share out when they had their pigs killed.

Being a child at the time, I think I didn't realise how serious the situation was. Being in the country it was very dark; no traffic as petrol was severely rationed. We still had socials and dances in the Village Hall, supported by soldiers and airmen stationed nearby.

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