大象传媒

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July 1939 was the summer when I left school. My work began in our Grocery business, which was owned by my family.

When the Second World War began we were stood by the radio, at home, at Heanor. Quite soon afterwards, my brother, who was three years my senior, joined the Royal Air Force Regiment, as a volunteer. As I was too young to drive our van to deliver groceries, we employed a young man to drive, whilst I visited the customers. Sadly that young man was later killed, on active service in the forces.

As I was not able to join the forces myself, my friend and I joined the local Air Raid Precaution movement. We were issued with a navy uniform and a tin hat each.

During my time in the ARP, the sirens would often sound at approximately ten minutes to five during the night. Our local office was named post 0/4 and was situated in the Methodist chapel schoolroom on Park Street at Heanor, Derbyshire, from where the local siren operated.

I remember the night when I heard a bomb coming seemingly overhead. I was on the pavement half way down the hill of Nelson street, Heanor. I lay flat in the gutter, as my father had instructed me. He had served in the Sherwood Foresters in the trenches in France during the First World War. However, there were three bombs only and cows were the only casualties.

One evening the sky was illuminated over by Derby. Next morning we learnt that Coventry had been blitzed, and the fires were so terrible that the flames had lit the sky, even at such a distance. There were many casualties then.

Blackout boards had been made for the shop by my father, and were erected every evening, no cracks of light being allowed to show, on inspection from outside the shop.

On reaching the age of seventeen, I was allowed to drive and do the deliveries in our small Austin van, holding a provisional license. My brother had taught me to drive during his two week embarkation leave. My ability was tested by my father, on the road into Smalley.

In 1943 we had several visits from a young Free French Soldier who was staying in Heanor, on leave, before he went to North Africa. We learnt from him a short French love song. Vera Lynn's songs were avidly learnt, the tune and the words, by listening to the radio. The songs were a wonderful tone, as we were just three young ladies, by now, in the shop, to do the work. My boyfriend, whose home was in Heanor, served in the R.A.F in Canada, when he returned in 1944 we became engaged, and were married at Heanor St. Laurence Church in 1945. I left work when we had our son in November 1945.

For my services I received the Defence Medal.

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