大象传媒

In May 1940, our family lived in Paignton, S. Devon. Being an only child I lived a somewhat protected life although I did work at a bank in Newton Abbot. At the time of the evacuation of Dunkirk I answered a call to hand out tea and buns at the station to the soldiers. I was shocked to see their tired and worn out state after a sixteen hour journey across the channel. I felt it was time, 'I did my bit.'

So on the 5th September, 1940 I volunteered for the WAAF. My father's reaction was, "You don't know how the other half of the world lives!"
We were duly sent to the Reception Centre in Bristol, that night we had our first air raid.

When the anti - aircraft guns behind us opened up we retreated to the cellars with our knees literally knocking from fright!

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Helena Noifeld of 大象传媒 Radio Kent and has been added to the website on behalf of Margot Shepherd with her permission. She fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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