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This story has been written onto the ´óÏó´«Ã½ People’s War site by Cornwall CSV Storygatherer, Martine Knight, on behalf of Mary Steed. Her story was given to the Trebah WW2 Video Archive, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2004. The Trebah Garden Trust understands the terms and conditions of the site.

I have always lived on the Helford and saw the build up to D-Day.

During an air raid on Falmouth two bombs were dropped on Helford and, as a result, the Americans set up a gun on Helford Point and lived in a tent on my father’s field. What with the rationing they proved a useful source of sugar for my mother.

With a boom across the river, to prevent enemy vessels entering, only military patrol boats were permitted free access.
One night my father was on Home Guard duty when a boat was heard and, when it failed to give the customary signal, he thought it might be hostile.
He, and a colleague — Mr Dean, got me to row them out onto the river to challenge the boat. It turned out to be an Allied patrol boat which had just forgotten to signal, but I she wasn’t frightened as I rowed out into the dark.

VIDEO DETAILS CWS030804 03:54:55 — 04:38:57

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