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15 October 2014
WW2 - People's War

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GI and Bevin Boy Experiences

by Peoples War Team in the East Midlands

Contributed by听
Peoples War Team in the East Midlands
Location of story:听
Mansfield
Background to story:听
Civilian
Article ID:听
A3916712
Contributed on:听
19 April 2005

"This story was submitted to the site by the 大象传媒's Peoples War Team in the East Midlands with Betty Edmonds permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions."

I was a teenager living in Masfield at the time. My Dad had been in the AFS when he went to enlist in the RAF and was refused, he had to join the NFS. He attended the Manchester Blitz when they punped dry the ship canal.

My friend and I met two GI's who gave us some nylons! They 'dated' us and told us to meet them at Newstead Abbey for the day. Great treat. We went by bus of course and met up. Wealthy GI's? We had to pay our own admission! They did bring food though and wine (but our families were methodists so we hadn't had wine before). One drink and we were too giggly to refuse what Joe and Gus had in mind. We were soon running down the drive to catch the Trent bus home.

As well as GI's there were Bevin Boys from Ireland who worked in the mines. Again, my friend and I were dated by Paddy and Liam. We went to the pictures - the Granada actually. After the films we had to catch the bus home. My friend and Liam went one way to Queen Street and Paddy and I via the side of the Granada. Unwise. We were both good girls being grown up.

My Irish fellow gave me a cuddle and said "Are you a Virgin?". I was very cross and said "certainly not. I'm not Roman Catholic I'm Methodist" and hurried to the bus. Yes I was naive and had no idea as to what he meant. A friend told me at school - I was mortified. Our future dates were with local lads.

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