大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Jenny Newby of Hull City Libraries on behalf of Mary Mawer and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Mary was courting for 2 years before the war started, but needed parents permission to marry when under 21, and her mother wouldn't let her go from home - needed her help.
Started work in Hammonds, but when war started, went to work in workshops down Anlaby Road at back of Armstrongs garage, making ignition parts.Worked with white Barsol which soaked right through clothes and shoes, making the soles curl up. So began to wear clogs from Cloggy Walsh on Hessle Road.Fish and chips and Jacket potatoes were a mainstay.
Hammonds was blitzed, and the plane crashed into the bus station early May 1941.
At Paragon station, waiting to meet her young man, Mary saw a long line of Jewish children arriving on a Sunday night early in the war.They had labels on, and looked pathetic - had been travelling all day.Many didn't see their parents again - were coming to stay with Jewish families in Hull.
Mary's half-brother, John Albert Turner was a paratrooper in India, and injured his arm so missed going to Arnhem - years later he saw the next number to his on the gravestone at Arnhem. He went into the military police, escorting German prisoners - some were very young. He said "it was wicked taking them from their mothers"
Hull again - walking past the Palace Theatre on Anlaby Road, some shrapnel fell in front of Mary's face - her young man said "You're more afraid of your mother than of the raids". Mary and William were married on April 12th, 1941. St Wilfreds on Boulevard was bombed 3 weeks before the wedding, so they were married in St Charles, while it was still Lent (conceesion during the war). It was like a conveyor belt - soldiers etc getting wed.While William was in Basra, his letters were censored - he wrote about "Uncle Percy's carpet" to let Mary know he was in Persia! but it took her a while to realize!

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