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My uncle Jack managed to get round the order to report all livestock by keeping his pigs deep in the woods. Without a fridge and with the risk that the pantry would be the first place to be checked, we kept our piece of the pig he would give us suspended in a pillow case above the stairs. I remember it was never referred to as meat or ‘the pig’ but as ‘the homefed’.

‘It was my job to close the blackout curtains every evening. One day I forgot and not only was our light showing but the pillow case was clearly visible. I think this was the only time my father got really angry with me and said he could be ‘had up’ if the homefed was discovered.’

This story was submitted to the people’s War site by a volunteer from CSV Oxford on behalf of Joy Freeman (Nee Burrows). She has given permission for the material to be edited and published.

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