- Contributed by听
- millennium_vols
- People in story:听
- Joan Deacon
- Location of story:听
- Plymouth - Davenport
- Background to story:听
- Civilian Force
- Article ID:听
- A3482426
- Contributed on:听
- 06 January 2005
When war broke out I was 19 years old and it was inevitable I would have to do some kind of service. I did not want to go into any of the Services, so I applied for, and was accepted in the NAAFI depot at Devonport as a clerk in the despatch office. There were two of us in the office and we had to take down the orders phoned through by the canteen managers who were on the shifts in the Dockyard.
One morning, Mr.Lawrence the warehouse manager came into our office and said to me, "Miss Williams, we have loads of tomatoes here, see if you can get the managers to take some". So after taking down their orders I would try to get them to take some. One rang up and I told the same tale only to be told, "No, but I would like you". My response was "I don't go with the goods" only to be told, "Please come out with me. I don't know Plymouth at all".
Having a convent education this sounded dreadful, and feeling very wicked, I agreed. He told me where we would meet and with much trepidation I went along. I had suggested a place near to where I lived and thought if I don't like the look of him, I shan't go over. However, someone looking very smart in naval uniform came along and that was that. We met for the following three days and then he was told me he was going home on leave. I had really come to like him and thought, "That鈥檚 that" but the next day he rang the office and said "get a week's leave a come down here".
I did, met his family and the rest is history. He was due to be sent abroad and wanted to get engaged before he left, which we did and for the next few years I was sending and receiving letters from Italy. He came home in December 1945 and we were married on December 15th at St Matthias Church in Plymouth. He died in 1985 having given me 40 years of happiness and the legacy of my three daughters. They have given me six grandchildren and I have three great grandchildren, all as the result of a phone call.
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