大象传媒

My name was Mary Codd and I was just 15 years old when War was declared on the radio, listening with my younger sister Brenda and my dear father (my mother had died a year earlier). I thought the enemy would appear suddenly but nothing happened until later, but of course the planes did come and the bombing with it, things were taking place like air raid shelters being built and ration books were issued. Although I can't remember my sister and I going short, I think my father went without.

However the planes did come and bombs were dropped, I do remember hearing a plane one night, one could recognise the sound of a German plane and the siren had not gone off when suddenly it swooped very low. I could see the shadow of the wings, it dropped before the siren went. Needless to say Brenda and I very quickly jumped out of bed and ran to the shelter.

My father always kept some sweets to give to children and try to calm them down, he was very badly gassed in in the First World War. I know we had to to carry our gas masks every where and of course we had the black out, no lights had to be shown, signposts were all taken away, I remember once I was asked by a man: Could I direct him to some service base? I cannot remember where, later I thought, "was he a spy?" Who knows?

Eventually I was called up and sent as a bus conductress, (my father did not want me to go into the services)and I lasted one half day, I was sick all the time and the conductor on the very busy Naval Barracks route told me to sit, I went home at lunch time and my dad took me to the doctor. I was next sent to the Dockyard as a welder which I enjoyed in no. 81 shop and met lots of nice people, including my dear husband Reg (now deceased)who I married in 1947.

Now to return to the Blitz of Plymouth. The bombing was dreadful with hundreds of of planes coming over night after night and bomb after bomb being dropped and the city flat and on fire. In also remember that George Street was all gone, as well as Quinn's, Goodbody's etc all gone. I well remember being with my friend one night and going home with her to find her house gone and it was near Princess Square where we also saw a severed fireman dead on the road. We used to run around with sand bags where they were needed. I was then also a Red Cross V.A.D and I remember going to the old Millbay Station, where service men injured, some very badly, had been brought home. I also remember the bombs falling on Mount Batten and the oil drum burning for days on end.

Another day I was swimming in the pool on the Hoe when there was a dog fight above - no sirens had gone off and I got out of there quick. The end of the War came and what a treat to see the lights go on again and make dancing on the Hoe, where I used to go often. Of course clothes and food were still rationed but really did anyone care? We were at peace at last. I pray this country will never have to go to War again.

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