大象传媒

I was 11 when war broke out. I remember my mother crying and I couldnt understand why- I thought it were exciting. At some point when I was a bit older the Yanks arrivedin Blackburn- they were stationed at Brookhouse Mill. We thought they were different- they had more money than the local lads- they were smarter, more confident and gentlemanly - they knew how to treat you well- and they definitely danced better! Some of the girls could get nylons, perfume, chocolate and chewing gum. The American uniforms were a finer material - not so rough as our own soldiers. The dance halls in Blackburn were full of them- particularly Tony's Ballroom- and that's where we used to meet them. The local lads were not impressed by these brashy yanks- and sometimes there'd be trouble. There'd be a fight and the American MP's (Military Police) would come into Tony's- there was no messing- they'd whack them with their truncheons and throw them into the waiting wagon outside. The Americans would walk us home- whereas the local lads couldnt be bothered if it was too far to walk- unless of course they fancied you. I found the Yanks very gentlemanly- they never got fresh with me- but perhaps I was a bit too young- they certainly seemed a bit older to me at the time. Some local girls did get into trouble- they got pregnant and this was a big taboo- and most of them went into homes. Quite a few local girls however did marry the Americans and moved to the States. In fact my now husband's cousin married a Yank and still lives in Kentucky today. And of course in our time- sex before marriage was a taboo and one of the reasons you did get married was to have sex!

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