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"This story was submitted to the People's War site by the Pupils of the Belfast Girls Model School on behalf of Rita Campbell and has been added to the site with her permission.The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Memories of a WREN

Rita Campbell was at school in Dungannon, Co Tyrone when World War 11 started. She recalls a feeling of excitement and anticipation rather than fear when she first heard the news.

Her brother joined the Navy and served on the Artic conveys operating out of Scappa Flow. She recalled her mother crying when he left for these dangerous operations.

At the age of 19 she joined the WRENS and was sent to Portsmouth. She worked in TURCO, (turn around control) which was set up in case everything went wrong for Britain. She was based at Fort Southwalk in Portsdown Hill 153 steps below ground. This was the hub of operations where Eisenhower had his bunker. She also worked in the plotting room charting the movement of conveys and enemy ships.

Rita remembers the mundane details of war such as rationing, petrol coupons, dried eggs and clothing coupons. She recited some of the slogans of wartime,

鈥淒ig for victory鈥�
鈥淐areless talk costs lives鈥�
鈥淲aste not, want not鈥�
鈥淧ut out that light鈥�

Sadly, she also recalled the many memorial services in Portsmouth when ships or aircraft were lost. Particularly poignant is the memory of the singing of the sailor鈥檚 hymn 鈥淓ternal father strong to save鈥�

On a brighter note she spoke of the canteens set up for soldiers, home on leave and midnight matinees in the heyday of cinema.

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