大象传媒

When war was declared on a Sunday in September 1939, the Bulbeck family lived in Birkenhead Avenue, Kingston on Thames- Mum, Dad, 4 boys and 3 girls. Five of us joined the army early on:-.

James - was a Private in the army, but he lost 2 fingers in an explosion, after which he worked at Hawkers Aircraft factory in Kingston.

Gertrude - was a Private in the ATS

Helen - was a Sergeant in the Catering Corps

Arthur - was a Paratrooper. He did 3 jumps before they discovered he was colour blind. He served in the Army in Belgium and Germany as a Motorbike Despatch Rider and Lorry Driver.

Frederick - was in the army in the Royal Corps of Signals, in 214 Brigade. When he died in 2005, not many people knew he had won the Military Medal for Bravery in July 1944. It was at Hill 112, near Caen in Normandy. He was later stationed in Germany and then in Rangoon, India

I, Dorothy (Ann) joined up later - I was a Private in the ATS, where I learnt to drive and maintain vehicles

and Ronald - was a Private in the army at the end of the war

I remember before joining the ATS that we still went to the pictures at the Empire. We had air raid warnings- the siren was on top of the Police Station at London Road. At night the raids were bad, something you never forget. We used to go to the underground shelter at the Grammar school in London Road. We had our torches, gas masks, Thermos flasks and something to eat. My Mum would bring the lamps and Primus stove down to keep warm; we had fire bombs and bombs at Knights Park 0rchards Road, The Regal Cinema and Hawker鈥檚 factory in Canbury Park Road. Then after that Mum got hold of a pram to take the blankets, food and water with us for the night. A good time we had, singing or just reading. As time went on we had ration books and clothing coupons 鈥� 7 coupons for shoes. 7 for a dress or stockings, 14 for a top coat. But we just got used to it. Our lives had to go on; we would go to the Dance Halls at Surbiton Assembly Rooms, The Coronation Rooms or the Palais de Danse, Clarence Street at Kingston- that was over Burton鈥檚 Men鈥檚 wear shop, next to M&S (Marks and Spencer) if we had the money.
Next thing was the fog, most times at night, but if it came down about 4pm it would get so thick, like pea soup, and we had to help the drivers by walking in front of the bus with our flash lights. You would hear the ARP wardens shout out 鈥渢urn those lights off鈥� and we would call back 鈥測ou help them, then!鈥�
While living in Birkenhead Road we had to have army boys billeted in the house, 1 Sergeant and 2 Privates. My dad was blind; one of the soldiers stole some money and Brownie Box camera. The Sergeant found the culprit and he returned the money and camera. Dad was very good about it and no charge was made, but the soldier was still with us for a few more months.
My time at home was good, but I was never allowed to stay out late.
Dad had been blinded in an accident at work; he kept chickens in the back garden, so we always had eggs. Being the youngest girl, I was the one who used to take the special ration book to get the chicken feed which we were allowed.
I remember that Dad had his compensation money from the accident hidden under the bed. It was all in notes. He was worried that Mum would spend it so one day he asked me to help him bury it in the garden. We got a Huntley and Palmer鈥檚 biscuit tin and some oilskin (waterproof) to wrap it up in. I helped him up the garden, and he dug big hole 10 paces from the cockerel run and we buried it there. It stayed there till Dad died. Dad had cancer and we nursed him at home. He had a lovely funeral with a glass hearse and lots of flowers, drawn by black horses with black plumes on their heads.
Then we had to dig the money up and at first Mum wanted to buy a pub, the Prince of Wales in New Malden for 拢1000, then a coffee shop, then a Draper鈥檚 shop, but in the end she never bought anything She was always a smart lady and not surprising that she had plenty of friends.
After that I put my age up and joined the ATS. After a time I was sent to Scotland. 鈥楳y God,鈥� I said, 鈥業 will never comeback to Scotland鈥� (it was cold and always raining.) but I did many years later.
By now, Mum had moved to 22, Gordon Road. Kingston. My sister and I were home for a long weekend leave. Later that evening
my brother Arthur turned up driving a big transporter. Little did we know, but when we said our goodbyes after breakfast next morning, I asked him what he had on board; he said 鈥渄on鈥檛 tell Mum but its full of petrol drums!.鈥� The night when he had stayed with us, Hawker鈥檚 was hit by a bomb and the Regal cinema too. You could say we were very lucky.
I hardly saw my brothers during the war as I was in Scotland and they were mostly abroad. My sisters were home on leave occasionally.
After a few years I was due for embarkation and I was posted to Dorking, in Surrey, not far from home. A few of us ATS girl would have a drink in the pub and I would play the piano- it was always a good night. I was also one of the ATS girls who used to go to the dances held at Wentworth House at High Ashurst, on Box Hill.
I met my husband Harry just after the war, though we had probably met before as youngsters. I always say I met him under the Three Brass Balls (the Pawnbroker鈥檚 sign) when I had just finished with a boyfriend. Harry had been with the 8th Army in North Africa in the desert and later at Monte Casino in Italy. He used to relate lots of stories about his experiences. It is a shame he is not here to tell them now, as he died 2 years ago.
I have lived on Box Hill now for 12 years. Who would have thought I would end up here, a few miles from my posting in 1944.

Now I am widow after 56 years very happy marriage to Harry.
We had two children, 5 grandchildren and a great grandson.
I hope they appreciate what we went through in those difficult times.

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