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I joined the WRNS in May 1943. After 2 weeks training I was drafted to Kirkwall, Orkneys to HMS Pegasus.

The Home Fleet as it was known, was anchored in Scapa Flow. Each Saturday and Sunday one of the ships would send an invitation to between 30 and 40 WRNS to visit. We would go across the Flow in a drifter (small ship), climb aboard and be shown around the ship. Afterwards we would have tea in the mess deck, consisting of white bread and tinned fruit. This being a real treat as it was something we couldn’t easily get in the war.

My brother was serving on HMS London. He was with the Home Fleet in 1943 and I was lucky enough to visit him twice on the ship visiting occasions.

March 1944 was when I met my future husband. He was a sailor on a Motor Launch (small ship). We were married December 30th the same year.
The Motor Launch didn’t have a name, it was just called ML148. The sailors were detailed to a dingy (2 people), and they had to row the dingy and get the detonators out of the mines before they blew up

I went with my Mother to choose a wedding dress. We chose one and the assistant wouldn’t let us have it until we sent in the clothing coupons. I didn’t have any, because my service clothes were provided, so my Mother gave me her allowance, which meant unfortunately that she couldn’t have a new outfit for the wedding.
I could have hired a dress and all the accessories for 10 shillings which was supplied to the Forces from America, but we couldn’t see it until a week before my wedding, and I didn’t want to chance it in case I didn’t like the dress or it didn’t fit properly.
At a later date a friend decided to use the dress from America, and it was what I had always dreamed of — a white velvet dress!

In Kirkwall at Halston Fleet Air Arm base, we had to go on parade as Lord Mountbatten was going to inspect us. We were on the parade ground for 4hrs.

When the sea was out you could see the mast of the Royal Oak, which was sunk early in the war by a German submarine. Only two people were saved as they were all asleep when it was hit.

I was drafted to a place on the main land called Cullercoats, near South Shields in May 1944, and from there to Scarborough, where I was demobbed in 1945.

Our daughter was born 21st October 1945 - (Trafalgar Day).

This was a period of my life I wouldn’t have missed — lots of memories happy times, sad times and wonderful experiences. I was invited to go on board The Renown, The Anson, The Birmingham, The Glasgow, The Belfast, The King George V, The Duke of York and The Indefatigable (which was an air-craft carrier). It was an experience climbing up the rope ladders.

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Jacci Phillips of the CSV Action Desk at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Hereford and Worcester on behalf of anonymous and has been added to the site with their permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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