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WINNIE HOWE (nee Williams )
AUXILLARY TERRITORIAL SERVICE

Winnie was brought up in Kent where her father was in farming. She had a brother and sister and step-brother and step-sister. She remembers that Charlie Chester lived in Swalecliffe and owned (though didn’t work in) the Post Office ~ he drove around in a silver Rolls Royce. Peter Cushing lived in Whitstable and in contrast, cycled to the shops on a bike wearing a deerstalker hat. After school Winnie worked as a cleaner and was in service at Bromley.

I volunteered in 1942 when I was 17, but had to wait until I was 18. I went by train to Guildford, Surrey for six weeks training which amongst other things got me fit. ‘Civvies’ (civilian clothes) had to be handed in and in return I was given a shirt, tie, skirt, jacket, top coat and peaked cap all in khaki. I would roll my hair round a boot lace and pin a large curl at the front.

My first appointment was in Hampshire, then I was sent to Stainton, in both places working in the Sergeants’ Mess. I was then transferred to Deerbolt and became a cook with the 54th Training Regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps. I can recall the cookhouse having huge steam ovens, big coppers heated by steam and ‘ban maries’ (dishes with hot water under to keep food warm) on top of the stoves. Porridge would be started the night before in the coppers and stirred with huge spatulas and it was not unknown to find a rat at the bottom in the morning, having fallen in during the night. I was sent to Newcastle to do a course in outdoor cooking, during the snow, and remember my friend’s hands turning blue!

We lived in brick built quarters and slept in dormitories, with showers and toilets. I always made sure I got a bottom bunk. We worked shifts ~ either the 6 am shift with the afternoon off, or late suppers. The dining halls were big and either for ordinary ranks or for officers. I remember Winston Churchill coming to visit the camps in 1943. The last hangman in the country was stationed at Deerbolt and had occasionally to go to perform his task and in the world of horses, Captain Crump and Peter Robeson were stationed at Deerbolt. Everyone was envious that Peter would be sent a whole duck at Christmas. On 25th December the officers waited on the men.

Socialising was in the pubs or dances were held in the gym at Deerbolt and it was here I met my husband, Harley (actual name, Harold) who had gone along with local friends. He was brought up in Barnard Castle and was on leave from Scotland where he was an engine hand in the Royal Engineers. We were married at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Swalecliffe by the Canon of Rochester, in 1945, when we were both 21. Harley came home from Luneburg in Germany on the Sunday and I came from Ashford where I was stationed at the time. We shopped to buy the ring on the Monday and the wedding was on the Tuesday. Our friend, George Marsh, who was in the Navy was best man. I went with my mother to Canterbury to buy my lime green dress and straw hat. There were 13 for the reception at home and so it wasn’t bad luck we brought Mr Marsh in from next door to make 14. We spent a week in Barnard Castle for their honeymoon.

Finally, I was de-mobbed in Ashford and handed back my uniform and got back my civilian clothes in return. This suited me as, though I enjoyed my time in the Forces, I was pregnant!

Winnie has enjoyed living in the north ever since, bringing up her family. She returned to cleaning jobs at Woolworths and Kiplings and was a home help up to the age of 62. Winnie and Harley celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary in June 2005.

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