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I Mrs. B. Gavin give permission for Valerie Oxford to add my written or transcribed material to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ People’s War Website: www.bbc.co.uk/ww2

My Time in the NAFFI

We started in St. Augustine’s Gate, a big hall. I transferred to the shop in the Barracks to help out while someone was away. When she returned to work I came back to St. Augustine’s. We had to move to Chilham to a Nissan Hut with better access for the lorries.

My first task was to put out the weekly rations for the units’ catering officers and drivers. As the war progressed we had to make up packs of food to travel with the units, i.e. tins of corned beef and vegetables, packets of biscuits and tea, dried milk. We would put little notes in as well to wish them well. The units we supplied were The Green Jackets, South Wales Borderers and the Barrage Balloon Unit. Many of them didn’t come back. New Zealanders came for weekly rations.

Other rations available to the troops were: Sacks of potatoes, eggs, sides of bacon, dried fruit and occasional tins of chocolate biscuits which were a great treat.

In the next Nissan hut to us there were pies, sausage rolls and pastries.

I met my husband there, he only came in twice and the second time he came he asked me out. He took me to the cinema and the seats cost 1/9d. He was sent away 2 — 3 weeks later and there was only contact by letter after that. It was 2 — 3 months before we met again. Then he went to Tubruq. It was a very happy but sad time.

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