大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by a volunteer from 大象传媒 Radio Cambridgeshire on behalf of Mrs Nellie Young and has been added to the site with her permission. Mrs Young fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.]

I remember going into the Anderson Shelter with my husband. My daughter was only a baby and hadn鈥檛 even been Christened by then.

My husband and I moved to Akeman Street but he left me with the children. I think he joined up and was at Colchester for a bit. I don鈥檛 know where he was after that. I had very hard time in the war. We had Social Security money. They wouldn鈥檛 give me any at first because my husband was alive but when I showed them the letter he had sent me鈥e鈥檇 gone off with a woman.

We used to go to Sainsbury鈥檚 in Sidney Street and everything used to come in quarters with the rationing 鈥� a quarter-pound of butter, or marge, or cheese.

Clothing鈥� well it was really bad then but a lady up the road often said, 鈥淚f there鈥檚 anything you would like鈥� 鈥� a coat that was outgrown. Things for the children. We had some marvellous neighbours in Akeman Street. They used to come in to see Mum. We used to be able to leave the doors undone 鈥� there was no stealing going on. The Muffin Man came round with a tray on his head鈥�

We had a nice party on VE day in Akeman Street鈥� all the neighbours and that.

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