大象传媒

Mrs Wills is willing to have her story entered on to the People's War website and has agreed to abide by the House Rules.

I am from Devon, was married there in 1940 and farmed at Druids Hayne, Bampton, Devon. On the 29th March 1943 we were woken at night by a noise at the door. It turned out to be a Scottish RAF airman who had baled out from his plane. He had been wandering about in the dark when he found our farm. He seemed unhurt, but was anxious to get his important reconnaisance information to headquarters.

I went for a policeman and the doctor. We had no electricity or phone at that time.

The airman went away with the policeman, but before he went he gave us a 50 franc note on which he wrote the date, but no name, that is why I am sure of the date, I have the note to this day. We never saw him again but exchanged christmas cards until we eventually lost touch.

ROMANCE FOR A LANDGIRL

While we were farming at Druids Hayne, Bampton, the American army were stationed at the town of Bampton prior to D-Day. We employed a Landgirl, a young woman named Beatrice Maidment who helped out on the farm with milking the cows, the stock and with the crops, we were growing peas and cauliflowers and other vegetables.

Beatrice became friendly with one of the American soldiers, and they decided to get married. We were very fond of Beatrice and as she had no family of her own I had the honour of giving her away at their wedding in Bampton Church.

Beatrice wore my wife Irene's wedding dress as they were about the same build. The American army supplied all the food for the reception at the farmhouse so there was plenty to go round, tinned fruit and even whisky. They spent their wedding night at the farm and we never saw them again.

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