- Contributed by听
- csvdevon
- People in story:听
- Marjorie Hitchings
- Location of story:听
- Teignmouth, South Devon
- Background to story:听
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:听
- A8214509
- Contributed on:听
- 03 January 2006
This story has been added to the 大象传媒 People's War site by CSV Storygatherer, Coralie, on behalf of Marjorie Hitchings, who has given her consent and fully understands the terms and conditions of the site
I was born in Teignmouth, and in the 2nd World War joined the W.R.N.S., training as a telephonist.
It was on Sunday, January 10th, 1943, that I went on duty at the Royal Hotel, Teignmouth. There had been flying practise all morning. I was due to finish my duty at 1 p.m., but the Wren replacing me missed the ferry from Shaldon to Teignmouth, so I stayed on taking messages. A signal came in that all flying had been cancelled and any planes heard would be enemy ones.
When I got home to my parents' house, we were having dinner when I heard a plane. I knew it was not ours, so we rushed to the Morrison shelter on the ground floor, and just as my father pulled himself in an explosion happened. We had a direct hit - our house was completely destroyed. We were pulled out of the shelter and the Salvation Army were there to help us.
Fate, without doubt, played it's part that Sunday, because if I had come off duty at 1 p.m., I would not have taken the message that saved our lives!
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