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They wanted 90 and not 100 for the battalion at the station when they were going off to Arnhem so names went into a hat.
My husbands name was drawn out!
We got married on the 24th February — I was just 18 years old.
I had a friend who made a white dress and we were married at All Saints Church.
Stan (my husband) was in his uniform.
We had a little reception at Stainsbry in Oadby I think.
It cost 3 and 6 a head.
We didn't have a honeymoon.
We had to say goodbye and he got sent to Scotland, then Ireland.
He stayed there and he'd come home every 4 months.
He was in 7 years altogether.
He had gone for a two year conscription and then war had broke out.
He got £95 when he came out and a suit.

Whilst he was away I lived with a lady and paid £15 board.
Then a little house came empty in a block and I got it for 10 bob a week rent.
We had a little piece of cheese to last for a week.
We had egg powder and a little bit of sugar.
When you knew someone had something in, you'd queue for extra food — like sausages, tomatoes and fruit.
We would walk miles.
The Americans would give children chocolate and give the girls nylon stockings.

From Ireland Stan was in Kent training officers.
He was a Sergeant.
My brother went to that camp but he couldn't associate with him.

We had three children during the war years.
When Stan came home he went back to his job at the shoe factory in Oadby. He then worked at the pit for 32 years working on the coal face.

This story was submitted to the People's War Website by Lisa Reeves of CSV Action Desk Leicester on behalf of Jean Frith and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the sites terms and conditions

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