大象传媒

I was living in Palmers Green, North London in 1939 when war was declared I joined the Red Cross at the age of 17. My duties were one night a week at first aid post and Sundays at a local hospital housing evacuated cancer patients. I also did fire-watching rota at the office building in London.
In the new year 1941 a stick of small bombs were jettisoned across our street knocking out two houses one of which belonged to a scotsman who was holding a party. Luckily the guests were celebrating in the street.
I had great difficulty in getting to my day job as a secretary in Holborn. If the underground was closed I had to use a steam train to Kings Cross. When the docks were bombed a fierce red glow could be seen at home.
I volunteered for the Wrens and was called on Feb. 24th 1943 just before my 21st. birthday which I spent scrubbing floors at Mill Hill depot. I trained as Air Radio Mechanic at Chelsea Polytechnic for 5 months, living in historic Crosby Hall, then 4 months at HMS Ariel Warrington where I was rated Leading Wren. While in London I took part in the fourth birthday parade of the Wrens when the salute was taken by the Queen. I was then posted to HMS Merlin, Fife, Scotland - Fleet Air Arm station.
I worked on aircraft such as Swordfish, Seafires,Avengers etc. servicing, modifying and installing radio equipment including IFF and testing them in flight. We worked shifts to prepare Swordfish for torpedo attack on the Turpitz battleship which was sunk. Allthough slow this plane was steady but vunerable. One day I swapped with another wren at her request for a test flight and watched with horror the aircraft take off losing height and crashing at the edge of the airfield, pilot and both radio mechanics were killed.They were given a full naval funeral, at the time the rhododendrums were in bloom, the wrens covered the coffins with their white flowers.
In 1944 I was drafted back to HMS Ariel to the workshops, assembling and instructing and was rated Petty Officer, in September 1945 was given compassionate discharge owing to mothers illness. In December 1945 I was very happily married to a Merchant Navy Officer

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