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Snippets of memories of World War 2
Some snippets of memories gathered by volunteers at the Epsom and Ewell Local History at the Wells Social Centre, 3 March 2004. All of the participants agreed that they should be entered on the Peoples’ War web site

AUDREY COOLING (nee Simpson)
I was in the NAAFI at Mickleham (nr. Dorking) and Leith Hill at a Canadian ammunition dump. I walked to the mobile unit at Holmbury St. Mary. I was in the NAAFI for 2-1/2 years, but before the war, I was a dressmaker. Vaughan Williams lived near Leith Hill and I can remember on one occasion a French (so we were told) `plane crashed in the grounds.
Epsom.
SHEILA PIPE (nee Adams)
I moved from Epsom to Leicester after I married and lived with my in-laws. Whilst I was there, I drove an electric van delivering flour and baked goads. We could see the bombing over Coventry. My husband had to return to Epsom because of treatment for an illness. Upon my return, I went into Munitions at Hawkins, East Street, which was a garage before. I was there for six months before my eldest child was born.
Epsom.
ANNIE COOPER (nee Meester) nicknamed Tokkie
I was born in Pretoria, South Africa. I was a teacher in a girls school and married an Englishman in the R.A.F.. I had a brother who was in the South African army who was killed in the north. I learned to fly and flew solo in a Piper Cub. I also rode an elephant. I came to England during the war and stayed having had four children.
Epsom.
Mr. Jobling as a child came across a downed aircraft in 30 Acre Barn (Ashtead)
and took the Rear Gunners seat. He also saw an aircraft come down in the grounds of the R.A.C. and took the propeller from the aircraft.
Mrs. C. Brash lived in Ashley Court, , Ashley Road, Epsom, near the police station which was bombed by a Doodle Bug. At the time, she was sleeping under the stairs in her flat in a deck chair. She remembers the windows being taped over and seeing the searchlights shining across to London from Epsom Downs. They heard lots of stories about the Canadian Soldiers who were stationed in the Grand Stand.

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