大象传媒

My name is Eileen Barrand

I was born on the 1st March 1918 in Derbyshire.

I never knew my father as he was killed in action in the first world war just weeks before I was born.
I grew up in a small family unit which was a very happy unit. I eventually grew up and went to work in the offices of Robinsons in Chesterfield.

I met my future husband coming out of Church one Sunday morning. I was never quite sure what his job was. We remained friends for a while before he told me he was engaged in top secret work connected to Churchill. I was never told the exact nature of his work.
He came to me one day and said he was to go away. I went to the station with him. I was very upset and remember the guard saying as he boarded the train 鈥渄on鈥檛 cry, he鈥檒l be back duck鈥�. Shortly after that he returned and we travelled to the Isle of Man for a break, and became engaged.

War was declared and I became ill with a serious leg problem and was admitted to hospital in Burton on Trent (a specialist hospital) and didn鈥檛 walk for five long years. During that time my husband to be supported and stood by me, visiting me as often as he was able.
We were married in 1944.

Whilst in hospital, the soldiers who had been injured at Dunkirk were also patients. They suffered greatly and were indeed still suffering from shell shock. The very sound of aircraft overhead would affect them, but the bombing in nearby Coventry had an unbelievable effect. They would crawl on the floor, sit and cry, or just sit staring and shaking. We as patients found ourselves offering comfort to those poor boys. That memory will never leave me as long as I live.

I felt very sad during the war years, most of which was spent in hospital. I felt very isolated due to my husbands work.

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