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Early in 1944, I was in the ATS, attached to the RAOC, stationed in a huge depot in the Midlands. I was a first-class stores woman, having passed an exam in Wireless Signals and Field Engineering Recognition. This involved knowing everything that was inside a wireless — cathode tubes, valves etc — and anything used by the Forces in field engineering such as water pumps and theodolites.
No one knew when the Second Front would come or where it would be but everyone seemed to know it was imminent. There were hints and pointers.
For instance, this poor little island was full to overflowing with Forces from all over the world. So many thousands of them, it is a wonder it did not sink.
Being out in the countryside, one might come across a convoy of small transport nose to tail tucked close under one of the hedges.
I once saw a country estate with larger transport tucked neatly under the branches of oak trees and spreading chestnut trees. Definite pointers and hints.
In the depot itself, life was hectic. Every unit in the Forces seemed to want small and large items for repairs. A unit of Canadians was drafted in to help. To us, it was a pointer and a hint. To them, it must have seemed a long way to come to mess about in a shed and help an ATS girl. Their strong muscles were help.
When the Canadians had gone, it was the turn of the despatch riders. They would roar into the depot with very anxious faces and want to be attended to at once — no time to wait. They would dash around the depot trying to get help to be looked after first until they found an ATS girl who knew what she was doing, then on to a packer. As the last knot was tied on their precious bundle, they were on their bikes and away, still looking anxious. Another hint that time was getting short.
At last the rush was over and, as we listened to the radio, we heard of D Day and the Second Front and we knew at last where our young husbands and boy friends had gone.

This article was written by Peggy Brown of Shiremoor

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