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This story has been added to The People’s War Website by CSV Volunteer Olivia Davey on behalf of the author Mrs Mary Doreen Elizabeth Hampton who understands the site’s terms and conditions.

My Father, Mother and I moved to Vale House in 1939 and that was our home for the duration of the war. It was a small holding, 5 cows, calves, pigs, poultry and bees.

The house was large and my Mother kept visitors — many from war torn areas such as Coventry and London. She managed the home and farm while my Father went to work at Rodda’s Tin Streams. He used to load the lorry by shovel with disused tin clay from former workings. This was taken back to the Tin Streams to be re-processed in order that every ounce of tin could be extracted for the war effort.

He was a member of the Home Guard and often did night duty at Portreath. Unarmed combat and shooting with a rifle were skills he was proficient at.

We had attractive iron railings, and gates which were removed for the war effort.
At school we collected newspapers and magazines and received a paper badge for our efforts.

When I was five and had Mumps, my Father carried me down the corridor because Nancekuke aerodrome was being bombed. It was frightening to hear the planes overhead.

Blackout was enforced during the war and Air Raid Patrol Wardens (ARP) would knock on the door and warn the householder if there was a glint of light showing.

Ration books were issued — green ones for children. If it was known that bananas had arrived in Redruth my very busy Mother would walk the mile to Redruth and queue for bananas for me. Only children were entitled to them. There was double summertime to extend daylight hours and I was put to bed in bright sunlight.

One day a Policeman came to our door and I was terrified and wondered what I had done wrong. Thankfully he was only checking my Father’s year ration for the bees.
There were air raid shelters built in Trewirgie school playground and we were issued with gas masks which we had to carry at all times.

American soldiers had a camp at Tram Road, Cambrose and would bring in Candy at school so that we had a sweet each. One day we walked to the camp and asked a soldier if he had any chewing gum. He gave us a packet of chewing gum.

Evacuees were sent from cities to be housed with people who had spare room. Tommy Steele was evacuated to Roskear & Brian Forbes to Porthleven for example. Because my family were all farmers we did not go short of food but no-one over ate. We valued food and there was no waste. People generally were not obese in war time.

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