大象传媒

This story has been written to the 大象传媒 People's War site by CSV Storygatherer Coralie, on behalf of Anne Dunn. The story has been added to the site with her permission and Anne fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.

My father was a Farmer/Market Gardener in and around the village of Ash, near Aldershot, Hampshire (H.Q. British Army). Therefore, being in farming, he wasn鈥檛 called to war and devoted his time to producing food and cereals for Britain. He delivered local produce to the town and villages nearby.

The family were issued with clothing coupons, and my mother being thrifty and an excellent seamstress, made virtually all our clothes. When she had saved enough coupons, she always bought lengths of material which would 鈥渃ome in useful one day鈥�. She was thus able to keep us well-dressed. The fabrics I have saved from the wartime years show the 鈥榰tility kitemark鈥� which was printed on most materials.

There is only one occasion I can recall. On hearing the air-raid siren, my Father called us out of the house to take cover in the Anderson shelter. It was a meal time and he made us tea and boiled eggs. He boiled the water on a small methylated spirit stove and the eggs came from our own hens.

Across the lane and the 鈥楢sh Green to Guildford鈥� railway line, there was a large country house called Dene Lodge. It was there that the Canadian Army was based, and my mother took in washing for one of the soldiers. On odd occasions I was taken to the house, where the cook took me into the kitchen area, sat me on the table and fed me with beautiful chocolate (a rare treat in those days).

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