大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Stoke-on-Trent Libraries on behalf of Doreen Walker and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

The Yanks were based in Alsager. They would come by bus to Hanley to go for a drink or dancing. They were all gentlemen. We'd spend the evening together and then they'd escort us to the bus stop and they'd get their bus back to Alsager. I remember they always had cigarettes, always the same brand, Lucky Strike. It was the only time I smoked! I've never bought a packet myself in my whole life! I remember one day out walking with a friend. We turned a corner and there were four 6ft black American soldiers. We were taken aback as we'd hardly ever seen any coloured folk before.

Dad kept chickens to feed the family during the war. There was one we were really fond of. It would come and sit on your knee and was really quite tame. One day we sat down for our Sunday dinner, mother put the chicken on our plates and we asked Dad which chicken it was. When we found out it was our favourite none of us would eat it. Dad had the lot.
Doreen Walker--Abbey Hulton,Stoke-on-Trent

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