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I was fourteen years of age when the war was declared in September 1939. Our gas masks were already supplied. It had been arranged for my sister (who was fifteen) and I to be evacuated to Hertfordshire. We would both find jobs to support ourselves. Our two elder sisters would remain with our parents — one was going to marry a soldier and the other was called up for the WAAFs.

My sister and I found office jobs but unfortunately my sister was taken ill and had to go into hospital. I went home to London for a weekend visit. My father and sister were ill so I returned to Hertfordshire to give my notice in, as my mother would be needing my help. I quickly found another office job not far from our home in London. Shortly afterwards, the bombing started on London. The second year of the war, 1940-1941, we felt the full force of it. We saw many a dogfight between the RAF and the Luftwaffe in the skies overhead. At night the skies were lit up with incendiary bombs — and many good friends were killed and damage the next morning was horrendous, but our courage and spirit kept us going and helping our neighbours. I attended a Baptist Church. We had members’ photos who were in the forces displayed on the walls and we remembered them in prayer.

I recall later in the war when the Doodle-bugs (flying bombs) were coming over at regular intervals, a friend and myself were nearing home. The siren had gone and we could hear the drone of this doodle bug and saw it coming straight at us. We were on a green and ran round the trees in panic before throwing ourselves down — it landed yards away, doing a lot of damage, but thankfully, although we were shaken up, we were unharmed. At this time also rocket propelled missiles were sent over at regular intervals and many people suffered as a result.

During those war years, everything was in short supply, but neighbours and friends would tell us of any goods that had come into our local shops and we’d hurriedly set off to get in a very long queue and hope we’d come home with our special treasure.

Our house really shook during bombing raids and many times we came close to death. There was a huge landmine dropped a short distance away. I had to visit my dentist but as he was still shaking from the aftermath of the landmine, the appointment had to be cancelled.

The war taught us a lot about sharing and caring for others.

My boyfriend joined the RAF (and rose to the rank of Warrant Officer — Air Crew) and we celebrate our Diamond Wedding in June 2005.

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