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Life is not always what it appears to be
There was World War 2, and then there was ME!
All I knew was my Mum, not my Dad
And the Brother and Sister I never knew that I had.

Throughout the years of trouble, some sorrow some strife.
Here I am now, just another Yorkshire housewife.

written by Pauline Bowden [ DAUGHTER][2003]

MY MOTHER:-
OLIVE DICKENS
1919 — 1994

BIRTH CERTIFICATE DETAILS

BORN:- 15/11/1919
FATHER:- ARTHUR WALTER DICKENS
FATHER’S OCCUPATION:- Coal Miner, ex- Army

ADDRESS: - 1 Albert Street, Bowers Row, Nr. Woodlesford, Leeds
MOTHER:- ESTHER DICKENS formerly DYSON

Although my mother did not speak very much about her family and her life in the ATS what she did tell me I share in this story.

My mother was the youngest daughter of Arthur and Esther Dickens; her father Arthur Dickens was an ex Guardsman. He was born in Middlesex.

The day before my mother’s 17th birthday — November 14th 1936 her mother Esther died at the age of 57 years.

Her father moved to Finchley, Middlesex and married Edith Ruth Eames on 30th December 1941. Unfortunately he died on 20th December 1942 at the age of 59.

My mother’s went to live in Finchley with her father when he remarried. I do not know when she joined the ATS but her 1940 diary shows that she must have enlisted at least in that year.
She trained as a Military Policewoman and undertook a lot of escort duties up and down the country. There are various entries in her ATS diary which I believe were names of some people who she escorted.
A black book showed the fire & first aid drills etc. which she had to learn as I believe they were also part of the duties as a Military Policewoman in war time. I also understand that traffic controls were also part of those duties.

In April 1940 she met and played marbles with the late George Formby, his autograph along with his wife’s is in her diary.

Although her diary did not contain many entries by her it does make interesting reading regarding the ATS services plus pre-printed First Aid and Recipe pages.

One incident she did relate to me was when she was based for a short time at Pontefract Barracks.
It was during the autumn months and apparently quite cold indoors; although there were specified times when the stoves in the barrack rooms could be lit my mother lit the one in their barrack room too early.
For this she was put on jankers; her punishment was that she had to sweep the barrack square clear of leaves. Needles to say there were plenty of leaves about and it was quite windy so it took her some considerable amount of time to complete the task.

My mother also sang with an Army Band, I think it was the Yorks & Lancs Army Band. I know she very much enjoyed doing this, she also loved dancing.

She met my father whilst in the services as he was often the driver when she was on escort duties travelling to various establishments throughout the country.
[More of this relationship is told in ‘My Story’].

I do not know when she left the services but knew she lived in Bradford after her discharge.
She married my step-father in 1949 and lived in Woodlesford and Oulton. Enduring many stormy and at times violent years she was eventually divorced in the early 1970s. Heart problems ensued from the late 1970s.

Sadly in late September 1994 at the age of 74 she had a huge heart attack and died. We honoured her wishes that her body be left to Leeds University for medical research.
A memorial service was held at the university in 1996 for all the relatives of the people who also donated their bodies for medical research.

MY FATHER

THOMAS JAMES HAMBLETON
1922 — 1997

BAPTISM CERTIFICATE DETAILS

BORN : October 16 1922 BAPTISED: November 8 1922 at Madras Christ Church AD

ADDRESS: General Pattens Road
FATHER: Thomas James Hambleton

MOTHER: Ruby Gwendoline Hambleton[nee Myers]

FATHER’S OCCUPATION: Sergeant of Police, Madras City

I did not know any of my father’s details until the year of 2002; this is explained on my Personal Page under the title of — *WW2 & then Me* - ‘MY STORY’.

He was born in 1922 in India; extracts from his Baptism Certificate are shown on the first page.
His mother returned to the UK to Bradford, West Yorkshire with her children whilst his father stayed on in India managing Cotton Mills. She later re-married.

At the age of 16 he enlisted into the Royal Navy but did not complete his training.
Like many others of his age he obviously did not disclose his correct age on enlisting.
Having obtained his Army Record I have copied it into this story. His Enlistment Details give his Date of Birth as 1920 whereas he was actually born in 1922.

Whilst serving in the war he married his first wife in May 1940. He was stationed at the time with 204 Company RASC at Devonport.

I now have his Army Records also a photograph when he came back from the North Africa Campaign; he is wearing his 8th Army Ribbon on his uniform. He returned to the UK in May 1944 having been away from November 1941.
The Medals / Decorations he was awarded during World War 2 were:-

AFRICA STAR
Ribbon: Sand with dark blue, red and light blue stripes.

Awarded: For one or more days' service in North Africa between 10th June 1940 and 12th May 1943; service afloat in the Mediterranean and on Malta also counted.

Notes: A silver numeral of either 1 or 8 is worn to denote service with the 1st or 8th Army between October 1942 and May 1943.

WAR MEDAL 1939/45

Ribbon: Blue with a white-edged narrow red central stripe and red edges.

Awarded: To all persons serving full-time in the Armed Forces for 28 days between 3rd September 1939 and 2nd September 1945.

1939/45 STAR

Ribbon: Equal stripes of dark blue, red and light blue.

Awarded: For 6 months service (2 months for operational aircrew) between 3 September 1939 and 15 August 1945 under operational command.

ITALY STAR

Ribbon: White with green central stripe and red edges.

Awarded: For service in Italy, Sicily, Greece, Yugoslavia, Corsica, Sardinia and area between 11 June 1943 and 8 May 1945.

DEFENCE MEDAL

Ribbon: Orange with wide green edges bearing narrow black stripes.
Awarded: For 3 years' service in the United Kingdom between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945, or 6 months overseas in a non-operational area subject to aerial attack.

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