大象传媒

I was a telephonist at the Southampton Central Exchange during the War, a reserved occupation in the PO Telephones ( now BT ). We were on duty at all times, often having to evacuate our switchboard, on the top floor of the building in the centre of the town to an overground shelter close by.
Then came our big blitz on 30 November 1940. I was on overtime on late duty, my father, a night operator was also on duty that night. We received Air Raid warning Red, then a double Red and we were evacuated to the shelter. An incendary bomb fell at the entrance to the shelter and another set fire to the roof of the exchange building. The top floors of the building were burnt out and the remaing floors and equipment severely damaged by sea water from the fire hoses resulting in a total loss of telecommunications in and out of the town.
We were sent up the road under a deluge of water from the hoses to a large furniture depository basement where we were to stay until 2am in the morning and then emerge to return to our homes while the city blazed all around us.
The PO Engineers erected a small hut in Southampton Parks near a main cable route to start a contact with the national telephone network. My Father had to leave home on the last bus at 6 pm to be on duty at 10pm to sit in the Parks overnight in winter to maintain the minimum of essential communication.
`I was sent to the Salisbury exchange for a short period, others to neighbouring exchanges.
A 42 position semi automatic exchange was built in the Coliseum ( the local exhibition hall ) basement in six weeks to start the restoration of the towns telephone system and I returned to duty there.
I wonder why my colleagues and I and telephonists throughout the country were given very little recognition for the essential work that they performed during World War 2.

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Deb Roach of the CSV Action Desk with 大象传媒 Hereford and Worcester on behalf of Hazel Stamp and has been added to the site with his / her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.'

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