大象传媒

My mum died in Feb 1939, the day after my 11th birthday. That summer my aunt got married and I went to live in Brackley (near Banbury). I went to have a holiday with her (to stay with her). The war started on September 3, and my mother asked if she would look after me for a bit. I was transferred to the local high school, so I was very lucky. We lived opposite a railway station and the Yanks came and took up residence in the station yard. They had about 10 tanks and when they went on manoeuvres, always early in the morning, it was hell on earth! They had a guard room and we heard the guards changing early in the morning and we could smell their bacon and eggs cooking. Some of the soldiers were black and some local children had never seen black people before but they were very kind and offered us sweets and gum (which were on ration). One day a troop train came by the station and all the ladies rushed over with jugs of tea and cigarettes for the the 鈥渢ommies.鈥� I鈥檝e often wondered where they were off to and how many of them ever came back.

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Anastasia Travers a volunteer with WM CSV Actiondesk on behalf of Marjorie Reader and has been added to the site with his permission. Marjorie Reader fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

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