大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War website by Marie on behalf of Audrey and has been added to the site with her permission. Audrey fully understand the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

It was the beginning of the summer term 1944. I was returning to Torquay - where I was doing a course in Domestic Science - after spending the Easter holiday at home in Essex on the farm. We were supposed to be back at our hostel by 7pm in time for the evening meal, but unfortunately I missed my train and the last train from Paddington to Torquay didn鈥檛 arrive until midnight. I was so worried that I would be in trouble for arriving so late. However when the train, packed with servicemen, stopped at Torquay I saw my friend Audrey Tassel - she had also missed the earlier train. When we left the station it was all locked up, we stood around for a bit hoping in vain for a taxi as it was quite a way to our hostel - a private hotel. There was an open jeep outside the station and after a while we climbed into the back. It was an American Army jeep - we saw them everywhere in those days. Suddenly out of the darkness loomed a huge man - I was really scared. He was a black American in full combat gear, wearing a helmet and heavy boots and carrying a gun! Well over 6 foot tall! 鈥淥h hell鈥� I thought 鈥渨e鈥檙e in trouble now. We probably shouldn鈥檛 be in this jeep - it鈥檚 probably the property of some American Army general or other!鈥�

But I need not have worried - after explaining our predicament to the soldier he disappeared. He returned a few minutes later with blankets and oranges for us. Oranges - we hadn鈥檛 had one for years! He marched up and down outside the station guarding us and we felt safe. Later he climbed in the front of the Jeep for a rest. He and his unit were living in a tent on an island in the middle of the road outside the station - they were fire fighters. Apparently after the first wave of troops went over the channel - the airborne contingent had already targeted German communications etc - the next in line to leave our shores for France were the fire fighters. In the American Army they were all black Americans.

Next morning, quite early, a taxi did arrive and we returned to our hostel to face the music鈥�..

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