- Contributed byÌý
- epsomandewelllhc
- People in story:Ìý
- Betty Thornton
- Location of story:Ìý
- Portsmouth
- Background to story:Ìý
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:Ìý
- A2945351
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 25 August 2004
The author of this story has understood the rules and regulations of the site and has agreed that his story can be entered on the People's War web site.
It was at the time of the Dieppe Raid (it was a failure). I was a member of the WRNS Rifle team (Gosport) and we were due to play against the Gunnery School team in Portsmouth. We had to take the ferry across the harbour when an enemy plane came and dropped its bombs all around us. Luckily they fell in the water, so we continued on our journey and won the match.
I remember VJ night. We dropped every thing and a party of us, sailors and Wrens, went to the funfair at Clarence Pier, Southsea. Afterwards we walked along the prom and decided to go for a swim in the sea in the warm moonlit evening. We took all our clothes off, had a lovely swim, put our clothes back and walked back to barracks — all clean innocent fun. I can’t imagine this taking place today amongst the young people without repercussions.
Betty Thornton
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