大象传媒

There was a certain closeness amongst service personnel, people outside, in civvy street, were a world apart. I remember I was either being posted or coming home on leave to N. Ireland and getting a train. I was waiting for the train in the station waiting room and was the only WAAF, in fact the only woman among that crowd of men. There were lots of them, all in uniform, soldiers, sailors and airmen. There was one soldier who sat beside me during the whole night, looking after me.
At one of the shops that I used to work in, I had a customer who was a nun from Ireland. She and I were quite friendly and one day she said that she was surprised that I was so friendly to her as she was a Roman Catholic and I was a Protestant. I was surprised by her comment, but said that I liked her even though our religions differed. The nun had heard that I was leaving the shop and said that she was sorry to hear of that, and then said she would love to give me a farewell gift. She said that as she had no money she would like to give me a set of Rosary Beads which had been blessed. I said that I didn鈥檛 mind what it was, I would accept it as a gift and would always treasure her present, and in fact I still have them. She also gave me a crucifix and said I was to, 鈥淕ive it to someone who has done you a good turn.鈥� I gave the crucifix to the soldier who stayed with me all that night, and I often wonder how he fared during the war. I never got to know his name, but I was glad he stayed and talked to me during the night.

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