大象传媒

I joined the ATS on 12th October 1940, with my friend, Francis. We felt we wanted to do something for the war effort. We were both countrygirls from Northern Ireland. In the end, I did not see much of Francis, as I was called first and went to Craigmiller in Scotland. I had never been further than Belfast, before! I was transferred to Ardrossan and, then, Strathpeffer to do a shorthand and typing course. When I was in the forces, I mostly did administrative work such as pay and allocation of food for the men - wherever we happened to be.

In 1942, ATS Headquarters wanted volunteers for overseas and we had to attend different Boards. There were a lot of girls going overseas and getting pregnant, so you had to have what they called "good character" before they let you go. I went down to London and from there to Portsmouth, all by myself. I suppose I was nervous at the time, but you meet up with other girls and make friends as you go along. There was a girl called Joan Constable and we travelled together most of the time.

At Portsmouth, we got on a troop ship, I think there were nine troop ships leaving at one time and they were all surrounded by destroyers and submarines. I believe that were one of the last convoys around the Cape of Good Hope. At Cape Town, we were not allowed to disembark, but despite this I contracted malaria, so that by the time I arrived at Durban, I had to go to hospital for three weeks.It was a lovely place. I thought I might get left behind - but they came to collect me and I was carried back onto the ship. I was so relieved!

The convoy split some days out of Durban - some went to India but we were destined for Egypt. I was based in Kasr el Nel Barracks in Cairo.

Whilst there, I was fortunate to be selected to visit King Farouk's farm. At that time, he was separated from his wife, Queen Farida and she lived on a lovely houseboat on the River Nile. We were to have lunch on the lawn and visit the stables and Palace. At lunch, we had ten settings of cutlery and, of course, for someone who was just used to a knife, fork and spoon, it was difficult to know what to do! I kept my eye on a major who was sitting opposite with lots of braid and whatever he did, I followed! After that, we were taken throught the orange groves and allowed to ride the white camels.

We were also able to visit the Pyramids (I climbed part of the way up) and the Syphinx. Being fairskinned, I was cast as an angel in the Nativity play which was held in Cairo Cathedral. I celebrated my 21st birthday in Egypt.

Then, I was sent on a Regimental Paymasters' course in Jerusalem for six weeks. We were stationed in King David's Hotel. We were able to visit many places of interest, including the Wailing Wall and the place where Jesus was born. In those days, it was just a simple manger in and old stable on sunken ground. Close by was the Garden of Gethsemane. On another day, we rode up the Mount of Olives on a donkey. I feel fortunate to have seen all these places before they became commercialised.

Some of us were selected to be attached to the 8th Army in Greece. But there was a lot of trouble there and it was thought too dangerous for us to go, so we had to wait until they moved into Italy.

We crossed to Naples and from there to a small place called Portici. By this time, I was a corporal, attached to the 8th army which was commanded by Field Marshall Montgomery. It was mostly intelligence work, in that my boss, a man called McKay, had military intelligence men stationed all over Italy. They were collecting information about the Gestapo, so that when the war ended, they would be able to arrest and convict them. The agents would send back information which would be read by McKay. He would pencil the information which he wanted indexed. This information would then be on file in preparation for their arrests. It was very interesting work and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was good to know that it may prove to be important in the future.

There were many sad things too. Boys came back form the frontline, shell-shocked and depressed - wanting to drown their sorrows with the local wine. One boy, in particular, killed himself, up against a wall, at night. He had had enough.

While I was stationed in Portici, the war ended. We were confined to barracks as it was thought that it was too dangerous for us to be in town - but we celebrated anyway!

We followed the 8th Army up through Italy and experienced the results of the fighting. We slept some days in the open, in our sleeping bags and we could see the destruction. Everything had been flattened -houses, barns, workshops. Soldiers had been buried along the sides of the roads with just their name tags to say who they were until the Graves Commission people could come along and bury them in proper war cemetaries.

We visited many other places in Italy, including the Vatican and Venice until we reached Udine. After a short time there and in Austria, I was sent home as we were only allowed to stay 2 years overseas.

We flew back home on empty bomb racks and when we were landing outside Peterborough, the plane overshot and ploughed into the grass. We had to climb out through the cockpit.

Trucks took us back to Catterick Camp where I stayed until January 1946. They asked me to stay, but I had promised my mother that I would come home when my time was up. I am still very proud to have been attached to the Eighth Army. I had been in the ATS for six years. on my return to civilian life, I started work in the Civil Service in Stormont and in 1952, I married Charles Brown.

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