大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Christine Wadsworth of Wakefield Libraries and Information Services on behalf of Cecelia Ainsworth (nee Jackson) and has been added with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions

I was born in Newark, Nottinghamshire. My father worked as an electrician at Sharlston Colliery. When I was 5 years old I was very ill and the doctor at the clinic told my mother that the smokey, dirty air wasn鈥檛 good for me. When my father heard this, the very next day, I was sent by train on a 4/6 (22陆p) return, to live with my grandmother in Newark. My father got a job at Ransome and Marles and we moved down there to live.

I had wanted to be a nurse when I left school, but I would have only got 4/6 (22陆) a week plus board, so my father found me a job as a Tracer at Ransome and Marles Roller Bearing Company where I earned about 13 shillings (65p) a week, bringing home just over 11 shillings nine and half pence (59p).

In 1940 I met my future husband, Ted, at a dance. We danced the Last Waltz and as we parted he gave me a cheeky peck on the cheek and a hug. He was posted to Egypt. Before the War Ted lived in Wakefield and worked for the Gas Board. His father was an ambulance driver for Snapethorpe and Manygates Hospitals.

I decided to apply to join the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) as a nurse - I had to buy my own uniform - and got a letter to report to the 21st Red Cross for 6-8 weeks training in Watford. I was then posted to Windsor. I caught the train down to London, then one to Windsor and then when I got there as there were no buses, I was taken to the military hospital where I would be working by horse drawn carriage. The Hospital was in a large square and had a parade ground in front of it. The Household Cavalry were assembled in front of the hospital and as the carriage started to cross the parade ground a whistle was blown and they were dismissed. They all saluted me and bowed as if I was royalty. If it happened now I would just give a royal wave back, but then I was so shy I just sank down into the carriage as far as I could.

We didn鈥檛 have to go on parade like the WAAF and ATS. My uniform was navy blue and we wore white blouses and pinafores with a red cross on the front. Queen Alexandra鈥檚 Royal Army Nursing Corps who were fully trained nurses, provided the Nursing Sisters in the hospitals I worked in.

Off duty we sometimes went to the pictures, but because of the blackout it was often dark, so we were walked down to the pictures by the Guards.

We were always invited to the dances that were held in the officer鈥檚 mess. At one of the dances I met Tommy Trinder, the famous comedian. I can say that I once got a hug and kiss from Tommy Trinder.

We were given leave and free rail passes which we could use to visit home.

I was in the VAD from 1940 to 1945. During that time I also worked at Shenley Hospital which I think was a mental hospital, but some wards had been turned over to military use. Then later I transferred to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) Officer Cadet Training Camp Hospital at Newark. I was at York Military Hospital when I was demobbed. Unlike the army, we weren鈥檛 provided with any demob clothes.

After the War we lived in Wakefield and I worked as a tracer for Charles Roberts Wagonworks, Horbury Junction. Part of my work there involved tracing the designs for Blackpool Trams. To get to work I had to catch the bus and then walk quite a way down to the works.

Although the pay that I had received whilst in the VAD was negligible compared with that as a tracer, I will always be glad that I did it.

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