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This story was submitted to the people war Website by a volunteer from Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life on behalf of J.A Patten.

J.A PATTEN

GARDENING:
Shortly after war started my brother built a greenhouse to grow tomatoes. We had a very large garden so grew all our own vegetables and also kept chickens, etc.

RATIONING:
As part of a large family we scored by having reasonable amounts of fats and sugar for Mother to bake with, everything was home cooked. Meat was 1 shilling and 2 pence worth for each person, about 6 pence in today’s money. I was still at school and during domestic science made meat pies, étc. courtesy of our local butcher who let me have ‘scrag ends’.

WAR WORK:
Three of my brothers were in the services. On leaving school I was employed for a short time sewing uniforms, etc. During this time my mother died and I had to stay at home and run the house.

ENTERTAINMENT:
Very little. We made our own, playing games, etc.

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