大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by a volunteer from Northumberland on behalf of Kathryn Thompson (nee Murray). Kathryn fully understands the site's terms and conditions, and the story has been added to the site with her permission.

Kathryn relates a favourite childhood story often told by her Mother, Ethel Murray (nee Ray), about a Valentine鈥檚 Day card Mum received during the War. The verse read:

"Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Oh, for five minutes in the blackout with you."

Mum, pictured above, never did find out who her secret admirer was!

Born at Gateshead on 26 April 1923 as the eldest of seven children (five girls and two boys), Mum lived at 73 Northbourne Street, yet she enlisted at Dalkeith. That was on 14 January 1944, supposedly for the duration of the emergency although she was not demobilised until 29 September 1946. After initial training, most of her service with the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) was by way of attachment to the Royal Corps of Signals based at Nottingham.

Another interesting snippet is that, shortly after enlistment, Mum received four Clothing Coupons, followed by ten Coupons on three later occasions, the last on 13 June 1946.

Her Father, Kathryn's Grandfather, David McDonald Ray, served with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, for a time aboard "RFA Olna".

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