大象传媒

"This story was submitted to the People's War site by CSV/大象传媒 Radio Nottingham on behalf of Mrs P Sapey with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions."

I had two six month deferments during the War. After the second I had an interview at the Sutton Labour Exchange, as it was called then. I was told that a married woman with a child could od my job, and I could must do war work. I asked what was available and told only the A.T.S. After a few days I was to attend the Bath Street Chapel at Mansfield where I had a medical and passed fit. A week later, a letter came, it was to report to Midalnd Station at Mansfield. I can't remember the time, there were a few of us and were met by an officer, where we went by train to Halifax. There had been a lot of snow and it was bitterly cold. I remember feeling sorry for the soldiers drilling on the Vic car park, little did I realize I would be sorrier for my self before long. On arrival at Wellington Barracks in Halifax, we were given a meal, another F.F.I. and then kitted out, all this was done in deep snow. Eventually we went to our huts and told to find a bed. We were then showed how to make a bed, there were three biscuits as they were called (three square shapes of mattress), two sheets and pillows and grey army blankets. In the morning everything had to be folded away in a uniform way. During the next six weeks we had lectures, interviews and much square bashing and how to lay kit for inspection. We were allowed out only for a few hours on Saturday afternoons. After six weeks we had a weekend pass to bring home civilian clothes. After that weekend we were dispatched to various units. Mine was to Talavera Camp at Northampton. There I passed my grade one trade test, even how to make your own field kitchen. After some weeks you were despatched to a unit as a qualified cook.
However, I could not go as I had a mouth infection, so I had to help in the stores, it was a job I liked, I didn't want to be a cook, but they based you as much as they could on what you had done in civvy street. The stores sergeant asked if I could transfer, but it was denied.
One day I was told to be ready for a posting, by this time I had acquired a stripe. I reported to London and an officer met some of us and we were taken to Gosport. On arrival we were taken to a very posh house by the sea, although there was barbed wire on the beach, I thought I had landed on my feet, only four beds in the bedroom and a view of the sea. After the evening meal the commandant sent for me, I was to be taken to Hemel Hempstead the next day, so much for my dreams.
I was met at Box Moor station and taken to the R.E.M.E. camp at Cupid Green. It was two miles from town only two buses a day. We worked 24 hours on and 24 off. There wasn't much leisure time, there was still square bashing, kit inspections and rooms to clean. I also passed my corporal course. It was rather scary at times as Brocks works were down the road half a mile, thank goodness the bombs never had a hit. Whilst I was a Cupid Green I was sent on a sergeants course to Aldershot to St Omer barracks. The weekends there I spent with friends in London. I must have been mad it was at the time when there was the worst bombing, how they survived I don't know. Back at Hemel Hempstead they were getting ready for something big and security was very tight.
One morning we got up and camp was most deserted. The invasion had started. One day the commanding officer asked me if I would transfer to Newark, someone from there needed a compassionate posting. I wasn't very keen but I thought I would be able to come home once a week. This time it was to 6CTU for Royal Engineers. Every fortnight there were passing out parades, and church parades every sunday. For a time there was a French Colonel and he excused women from the passing out parades he said they were meant for nicer things. However when he left it was back to square one. After VE day they started demobbing married women. I wish sometimes I had stayed in the ATS till my husband came home, on the other hand it was nice to be home and have some privacy. I was sent to Fulford Barracks at Yorkto be demobbed and given clothing coupons and the princely sum of twenty-six pounds. My army number was W/201805.
The tutors at Omer barracks at Aldershot were civilian chefs. One day outr tutor had a sponge cake and showed us how to ice it. There was no icing sugar, so he boiled up sugar and water. Then let it cool and iced the cake, then he made an icing bag out of grease proof paper, and shaped the sharp end , made designs on the cake and it looked a master piece.

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