大象传媒

Mrs Hicken has confirmed her willingness to have her story entered on to the People's War website and has agreed to abide by the House Rules.

When war was declared on 3rd September 1939, I was 17 years of age, almost 18. My father was very ill at the time due to the effects of world war one - 1914/1918. My mother and brother unfortunately could not cope with sickness so it was left to me to carry out instructions from our doctor to manage my father's legs and feet Haroid "bedsores".

Now to my working days. I worked at a firm called "Moulded Products" and there were two moulding shops where there were large machines where the men worked who did the moulding. These were bakelite mouldings of various parts of telephones, the earpiece, mouth piece, handset etc. We had to view, wrap and pack these into cardboard boxes, tie them up securely and then they were sent to the forces, army, navy and airforce. As the war progressed the men moulded the various types of 'planes used in the war. These were put through the same process and sent to our forces so that the men could recognise them and not shoot the wrong ones down.

A little later we were sent long metal tubes in which we had to fold and pack parachutes. These had to be packed exactly right so that if the airmen in the plane had to bale out, when the cap was pulled off and the men pulled the cord of the 'chute' it would open correctly and they would land safely, wherever that may be. We worked from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 6 days a week and occasionally we may have worked on a Sunday.

During all this time we all pulled together and were a happy crew all around the firm.

Of course, when the sirens sounded, which was more often than not at 6 p.m. everything came to a standstill and I in particular had to walk home, approximately 3 miles because the trains had overhead rails which were electric, so there would be no lights at all and one could not shine a torch. Of course, for me it was a sad time because my dear father passed away on 2nd October 1939.

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