大象传媒

I actually wanted to be a Land Army Girl, but my mother didn't want that as my family were all Naval.

So I spent 13 months at the Old Manor House at Fareham with some time at the training centre in Highgate. I was then billeted to Weymouth at Portland Bill. I was paid 13/- a week for an 8am - "till you were not needed again" shift. The Americans were also in Weymouth and they had to have an escort when they went into town.

In 1941 when I was 18, I married the boy I met when I was 15.

We were well fed in the Navy (I ate loads of cornbeef!), but we felt sorry for the civilians who we knew were not getting the food we were. Christmas was also special for us because all the Officers waited on us.

However, it was not all fun and games - I saw the wounded American soldiers who landed at Portland after Dunkirk. They had been sent to the wrong beach, and it was a harrowing sight.

But I'm glad I listened to my mother and went into the Navy - it was certainly an experience.

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