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When Jean Grainer - now Mrs Jean Normington of Leeds branch - began her career as a telephone operator she went to work with gas mask and tin helmet slung across her shoulder. Here are her recollections of Leeds Telephone Exchange in wartime......

"During World War Two I started my career as a trainee telephonist at Leeds HPO/GPO Toll and Trunk Exchange. Six weeks in Telephone School, then all too soon came that first day when you were on your own on the Toll boards where subscribers dialled '0' for the operator for local calls. Walking up the stone staircase carrying your telephone headset and a shoulder bag containing your special gas mask, over which was slung your tin hat. These two items were compulsory equipment and were always placed on the back of your chair.

Through the double doors and then there was always that buzz of voices that created a special atmosphere which to me never changed. Clocking in on that funny old time clock. 10-12 weeks answering 'number please' on Toll, it was back to school for training on Trunks where subscribers dialled '94' for the operator. There was the Incoming suite where you answered 'Leeds' and connected other exchange operators to either local exchanges or just plugged them through to a distant exchange. No STD in those days!

High in the centre of the switchboard hung the 'delay board' and most evenings this showed how much delay there was to various places before a trunk call could be connected. The delay could be anything up to four hours and sometimes longer. It was usually an indication of which parts of the country were being bombed by the Luftwaffe.

We worked alongside our male night telephonist colleagues whose duties started at 6pm. The day telephonists worked rota duties covering the hours 7.30am to 9.30pm. Then, midway through the war, shift working was introduced with a two-week duty alternating daily, Monday to Friday, covering the hours 2pm to 11pm and 8.00am to 2.00pm - ups and downs to us! This entailed sleeping at the HPO or walking home, if that was possible, in the blackout.

The Postal Superintendent's Office on the second floor served as a dormitory with 10-12 beds. We were issued with a pillowcase, two sheets and a blanket and we had to make and unmake our beds. There were blackout curtains at all the high windows making it somewhat claustrophobic when the lights were switched off. I remember supper in the dining room (a treat was sausage and mash) and all the stories told when we were abed.

It was a time when friendships were forged that have lasted to this day. Alas, I do not see some friends often enough but when we meet we can turn the clock back to those good old days of camaraderie. The strick discipline was accepted and asking for an 'urgent' (to visit the loo) was just part of life. I have always thought it was a job well done. After all, they did say that we were 'the second line of defence'.

This story has been added to the People's War website by Terry Greenwood on behalf of Mrs Jean Normington (nee Grainger) who has given her written permission so to do.

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