´óÏó´«Ã½

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Katherine Kissane from WM CSV Action Desk on behalf of Elsie Vaughan, and has been added to the site with his permission. Elsie Vaughan fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

I was married in Birmingham in September 1940, and my husband was in the army so I would have to keep the house together while he was away. I applied for a job on the buses as a ‘clippie’. At the time, this was the only job that paid equal money to women, as it did the men.

It was the winter of 1942, and we were certainly experiencing some close shaves, especially at night. I remember one incident when my husband opened the door to go outside and just missed being hit by a great lump of shrapnel. He would certainly have been badly injured.

We tried to keep the public transport going for as long as possible, but occasionally we would have to abandon the bus and go to the underground shelter — no lights allowed. It was difficult to collect fares but we managed not to lose any money. Added to everything else, there was rationing of food and vital commodities but we kept well and had sufficient supplies. Clothes were scarce too. I almost feel I am living luxuriously. I have since moved away from Birmingham and am now living in Redditch.

Life was precious back then, and standards of wrong and right were clearly defined. How times have changed.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.