大象传媒

This is a story about my mother, Emma Caulfield as she was called then, now Chadwick.

"I was called up for the ATs on 31st December 1943 and sent to Dalkeith in Scotland. Well they said they needed me so I went, "not much option".

it was awful at first and it was the first time I had been away fro Home. i trained with a lot of girls who were in the NAAFI. They were training to go abroad and what a mess we were when fitted out. I had to wear my skirt which was blue and a khaki tunic, brown shoes, woolen stockings and a hat that came over my ears.

After six weeks training and having got sorted out, I was sent to Old Dalby in Leicestershire and worked in the Wireless and Signal stores.

One morning I went on parade in shoes instead of boots and gaiters. I was sent to the Medical Officer who gave me a chit excusing me from wearing boots permanently.

I was then posted to 62 VRD (Vehicle Reserve Depot)at Byron Park, Ferrybridge and it was great. I worked outside in the vehicle park with all kinds of transport and had to work with a towing team, myself and another girl. We were good pals and we became attached to the REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers).

I attended a vehicle maintenance course at Castle Ashby which I passed. We didn't sleep in the Castle, our billets were the stable-lads rooms.

I returned to 62.VRD and was a grease monkey. We had to know every grease nipple on the lorries and vans. Our towing vehicle was an American Dodge Fargo and our tow ropes were linked steel with big steel hooks.

I also got 7 days jankers for not doing as I was told, after arguing with a corporal who reported me.

I was sent on another MT Specialist course at Weedon which I passed and came back to my own depot and was I glad to get back. I had a driving test which I passed ("Clever Clogs").

By now I had flat feet and I was sent to Hatchforth Park in Surrey for six weeks treatment and it was smashing. I was then sent back to 62 VRD but Iv'e still got flat feet.

I went on an upgrading course and my weekly wage went up to the large sum of one pound and six shillings.

We were billeted away from the depot in a house called the "Mount" in Knottingley and the people in the village were very kind to us.

When the Depot was disbanded and the Ministry of Supply were taking over the people who owned the pub in the village gave a dinner for us all but they didn't tell us they had killed a goat expecially for us but we thoroughly enjoyed it.

I then got another 10 days Jankers. My friend and I had been on a weekend pass and came back wearing our civilian clothes. A Troop Carrier used to pick us up at the Station but we decided to walk. Anyhow it stopped and asked us if we wanted a lift and like fools we decided to get on, little knowing that a Sergeant was sitting in the corner. When we got back to the billet she touched us on the shoulder and said report to me in the morning.

When 62 VRD closed my friend and a lot more of us were sent to Aberford, another VRD Depot. It was very nice until a Sergeant decided it was time my friend and I were split up but she did me a great favour as I was posted to the Team Valley Trading Estate at Gateshead which was only a few miles from my home in County Durham and I was able to get home every night.

I worked on the petrol and derv pumps.

I was then sent to Ashchurch. I worked in the stores for my last few months in the Army until I was de-mobbed at York.

I enjoyed my years in the Army. You forget all the rotten times and I met my husband whilst at 62.VRD".

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