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15 October 2014
WW2 - People's War

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Our Interview with Betty Skinner

by Romsey Community School, Hampshire

Contributed byÌý
Romsey Community School, Hampshire
People in story:Ìý
Clara Skinner (A.K.A Betty)
Location of story:Ìý
Romsey
Background to story:Ìý
Civilian Force
Article ID:Ìý
A2821637
Contributed on:Ìý
09 July 2004

WW2 family history project

Betty was 19 when the war started, she was working on a farm at the time. She was moving around all the time, because she was working with the Naafi - she was never situated at one place for more than a year! By the time the war had ended she was married and living in London. She was stationed with the Americans and enjoyed this as there were lots of young men about who she could flirt with. she always had plenty of food because she grew her own and didn`t get rationed as she was in the Naafi and the Marines. She saw many children being evacuated, this was upsetting for her.
She said the most frightening experiences for her were the bombing and she particularly didn’t like the sirens. In the blackouts many people walked into things so the pavements had to be painted white. She recalled the air raid shelters being very cold and dark. The most difficult thing was leaving her mother and she lost 4 cousins, her boyfriend and 1 brother in the war.
She was walking home from the cinema and when she got to the gate a soldier shouted out “ Friend or Foe?" but she continued to walk, thinking it was a joke, she then heard a rifle loading and froze. Betty thinks the war was justified and doesn’t think it can be prevented.

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This story has been placed in the following categories.

Air Raids and Other Bombing Category
International Friendships Category
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