大象传媒

I was 17 when the war broke out, was too young to join up but by the time I had nearly finished my three year training to be a hairdresser. I volunteered for the Navy (WRNS) in 1940 then just turned 20 years old.
The Navy sent for me to go to Blundelsands near Liverpool to do two weeks training. When I had completed my training I was sent to Culcheth near Warrington. There wasn鈥檛 any hairdressing in the WRENS at that time so I became a stewardess there. I met my husband there, we got married on a weeks leave at St Christ Church, Werneth, Oldham in 1940. My husband鈥檚 name was John Buckley, he was from Battersea London.
After about 12 months I was drafted to a Butlins Camp (HMS Glendowar) that the Navy had taken over, and it was near Criccieth, Wales. Then I was drafted to Scotland (HMS James Cook) near Rothsay there I was shown my own hairdressing saloon. The Captain and officers stayed at Calla Calthe, but he sent for me, and asked if I could cut the sailors hair, as they were without a barber- he had been sent to sea, but they were expecting the marines arriving soon and they would have their own barber. I must say I was a little nervous cutting the Captains hair as he had a bullet wound; I had to cut around it. All in all I don鈥檛 regret one minute of serving in the WRNS. I am only so sad for the friends I lost.

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