大象传媒

I was born on the 19th March 1916 to Caroline Ann (nee Willis) and James Harris. The third of three girls, Ivy Carolilne and Winifred Maud and me. I was named after the battle of verdum in the First World War. I had an older brother Sidney James and two younger brothers James Albert and Leonard Frederick. The youngest brother, Lenny was killed whilst serving with the Royal Navy. His Ship was the Stoke Newington's sloop, 'Ibis' It was torpedoed and sunk by enemy action in 1942. He was just 20 years old.

I llived in Cowper Road, London N16 and attended St Matthias Church School I also went to St Matthias Church. After leaving school at 14 and a short spell at Homerton Continuation School I then started work making lampshades in the City. My second job was as machinist at Lloyd Attree and Smith making ties. After that I worked for a while for The House of Simpson as an apprentice. My last job before joining the Army was with Tungstalite making electric light lamps (light bulbs.

In 1939 World War Two broke out. On the Sunday morning Neville Chamberlain announced on the radio that the Second World War had begun. The air raid sirens were sounded a short while afterwards. We had been issued with gasmasks which we took with us and proceeded to an air raid shelter. It turned out to be a false alarm.

We had an air raid shelter built in our back garden. Two thirds was submerged and the remaining third was covered with earth. There were a couple of bunk beds in it. We went to the shelter a few times after which we remained in the house unless it looked really bad. I went to work as usual. I did fire watching at work a few times.

One Sunday as I was about to clear away the Sunday tea things there was a terrific explosion. we learnt afterwwards that two landmines had exploded either side of our Church. My mother was blown across the room to where my father was sitting in his armchair - both were unhurt. I'm sure I don't know where the tea things went! Everywhere there was dust from fallen plaster and broken glass from the windows. My sister who was living upstairs and expecting her first baby was terribly upset as it work her first married home.

Of course all of the windows were blown out and the ceiling came in. My Dad woldn't let us go out into the street as it was very bad. The two landmines had very badly damaged St Matthias Church and many surrounding houses, there were also fatalities.

I remembered my young brother Lenny coming back into our kitchen covered in dust and dirt singing "Roll out the Barrel" and kept us all laughing. My other sister Ivy had come round and was helping to clean away all the glass, pictures, lustres etc. We were able to remain in the house.

Then in 1941 I joined the armed forces, A.T.S. (Auxiliary Territorial Services). I did my basic training at guildford Barracks with the Queens Regiment. I then trained to be a driver o a 30cwt lorry in Hereford. I passed and was posted to Hampshire. I was attached to 391 Regiment, Royal Artillery. I made some very good friends, one of who I still in contact with.

I met John (who has become my husband) who was a fitter in Battery H.Q. working on cars, lorries etc. He was in the Teritorial Army attached to the Wilshire Regiment Royal Engineers when war broke out. He was then living in Wiltshire. Therefore he served in the war from 1939 to 1945 when he was demobbed.

After a short while in Westbourne the regiment was posted to Northwood camp on the Isle of Wight. After about two years we were posted back to the mainland to Bursledon Towers, a large house outside Southampton. John and I were married on 4th March 1944. As soon as we were married John was sent away to a searchlight site so we were only able to see each other occasionally.

In October 1944 I was demobbed as I was expecting our first baby. I went back to work for Tungstalite as a 'footmaker' for about two months until Chirstmas. The air raids were still continuing only this time it was the V1's and V2's. You didn't hear then until they had landed! At work the girls waited until they heard where the bomb had landed and ift it was their home they would grab their coats and dash home.

I was evactuated to Lockington Hall, Erby where Carolyn was born two days after peace was declared. John was eventaully demobbed. He became a London Bus Driver and worked his up to Chief Driving Examiner for london Transport. He retired in 1984. We had three more children over the years.

We moved to Nuneaton in 1992and sadly my dear husband John passed way in November 1994.

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