大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War Site by Three Counties Action, on behalf of Lenise Caves, and has been added to the site with permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

My first realisation of an impending war was during a family holiday to Skegness, in the summer of 1939, when the town was subjected to a black-out drill. I was then 17 years old and, along with one of my sisters, found the whole thing quite fascinating. As we peeped round the edge of one of the bedroom curtains, we could see soldiers and ARP men in the street below, checking all the buildings for chinks of light.

On the day that war was declared by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, I was visiting my friend who lived in Elaine Gardens. It was 11.00 a.m. when we heard the announcement on the wireless. At that time, my friend and I were working as apprentices in the hat trade at Hubbards Hat Factory in Regent Street, Luton. We realised that we would soon be called up for war duties so rather than face the prospect of perhaps leaving home, we volunteered to work on munitions at George Kents in Biscot Road, Luton where we stayed until the war was over. I also joined a first-aiders group which was organised by Mrs Pates from Chaul End Road, having already passed my Red Cross certificate in the Girl Guides. Once I had completed and passed this course, I was qualified to join the ARP and we met each Tuesday at their base in the old Coach House which was situated at the entrance to the old Vicarage. We each took our turn on the duty rota and I recall being on duty once when a bomb fell in Folly Lane. One family in Chaul End Road (our next door neighbour in fact) had a lucky escape when a piece of shrapnel broke through a bedroom window, where their 2 young children were sleeping, and lodged itself in the bed head between the two youngsters.

I met my husband, Ernie, in November 1939, just before he was called up to join the Royal Engineers in January 1940. We were married in September 1942 but without any of the splendour of today鈥檚 wedding ceremonies. My dress was bought with clothing coupons and the cake was iced with chocolate icing as there was no white icing available during the war.

On VE Day, Ernie was in Belgium but I joined in with the many celebrations that were held in the village. On VJ Day, Ernie was on leave from Germany and we spent the day in London. Whilst walking down Oxford Street, the atmosphere suddenly developed into something we have never forgotten. Office workers were hanging out of windows, cheering and throwing tick-a-tape, people hugged and danced in the streets and newspaper sellers bellowed out the news that the war was over! It was a wonderful sensation and it was lovely to see so much happiness and cheerfulness again.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.