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This story was submitted to the People’s War website by Terry Cleaver of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Kent and has been added to the website on behalf of Mrs Edna Jean Smith (nee Benson) with her permission. She fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

‘AS I GREW UP’ BY MRS. EDNA JEAN SMITH (Nee BENSON)

When war broke out I was 16 years old and lived at 60 Military Road, Canterbury.

From 1940 I attended night school at the old hospital, Longport, Canterbury, many times learning Pitman’s shorthand by candlelight, especially during air raids. I could not take typing lessons until I had completed one years shorthand, as there were so few typewriters available.

1941: I worked as a shorthand typist for Mr Irvine Williams (Furriers) in Burgate Street, Canterbury. When the Belgians gave in I was stood off. A fortnight later their premises were bombed to the ground and Mr Williams and Miss Joan Horn was sadly killed.

My shorthand teacher who was then Employment Officer recommended me to Cadbury’s at Station Road East, Canterbury. Apparently I was the first elementary girl (educated at City Council School, Canterbury) to be employed by Cadbury’s.

There were many air raids and we had to sit under the subway at Canterbury East Station for hours while they were on, but eventually they built a shelter under the warehouse. These premises were situated next to the station with their own siding.

Whilst living at 60 Military Road, there were many air raids and the house was damaged and in the 1st June blitz received extensive damage and claimed to be unsafe to live in. There were 7 of us in the Morrison shelter (including a soldier’s wife’s new baby) and we had to crawl out of the debris. In the meantime, my mother was able to rent a small house in Alma Street and the weekend we were due to go back to Military Road (which had been made temporarily habitable with a tarpaulin roof and blacked out windows), I asked my mother if we could leave it a week. On that fateful night of 31st October the house had a direct hit. The film showing at the Regal Cinema was ‘Gone with the Wind’ — how right!

1943/44: I was a Civil Defence Warden and was stationed at an air raid post just outside the Friar’s Cinema which is now the Marlowe Theatre. There were two bunk beds in the post, I was the skinny one but the other lady was very plump and always liked the top bunk!

From 1943 onwards I was a member of the St. Radigund’s Girl’s Club. I played the piano for the Choral Society run by Miss Doris Wiggins, the Headmistress of the City Council School. The club was in the hands of Miss Leveridge. In those days, all clubs put on charity shows — ours included the choir and torch light dancing. I also went dancing on Saturdays at the Cavalry Theatre.
I was transferred from Cadbury’s as a shorthand typist to the Balloon Headquarters at The Holt, Harbledown and was the only civilian in the squadron. This was at the time of ‘D’ Day. I always helped the girls in the Orderly Room with their post, so they could go home at 5 o’clock too!

I then transferred to Canterbury Motor Company, which during that time was changed to Rootes Limited.

1945 onwards: I was transferred back to Cadbury’s and on my marriage was presented with a bible and personally signed letter from Miss Dorothy Cadbury.

Sadly, Cadbury’s were not in favour of married women working so I felt obliged to resign.

Telephones: You were not allowed to either receive or make telephone calls at work. For some time my parents were up north and I waited at a friend’s public house, The Tally Ho in Clyde Street, for a call to come through which often took 3 hours from the time they booked the call.

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