大象传媒

As the war went on the news seemed to get worse and worse we seemed to be having a catalogue of disaster one after the other, Greece, Crete and then in the Middle East and finally Singapore. I think Singapore was the only time during the war when I had a sneaky feeling that we might not win! Singapore was rock bottom 鈥� the shortages got worse and the queues longer. If you saw a queue you would join it and then ask what people were queuing for as it might be something you needed. The war dragged on and I could see that it would not be over before I had to be called up, it was like a time bomb ticking! I had to register when I got to 17 戮 - the thing I dreaded most was being told to go and work in the mines. 1 in 10 of the young men signing up were sent to the mines 鈥� these were the Bevan Boys. When I did get my call up papers when I was 18 it was almost a relief to see that I鈥檇 been put in the army! Some people in the building trade were being sent down to London to help repair the bomb damage, not knowing what to do I went to the Labour Exchange and asked for advice as to what to do 鈥� the answer was 鈥淭he army! The army takes preference and that鈥檚 it! Shut the door on your way out鈥� So the army it was. On one bright October morning in 1944 I stood on the platform on Bordesley Station with a lot of others ready to go to Bodbrook Barracks in Warwick to start my army service. So on that day I finished as a civilian and started as a soldier 鈥� But that鈥檚 another story!

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War website by Diana Wilkinson of the CSV Action Desk at 大象传媒 Hereford and Worcester and has been added to the site with Mr Harry Devy鈥檚 permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

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