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I’m Alice Elizabeth Rowe and I was born in the village of Harley, Shropshire.

In 1939 I worked at a butchers shop — and after that I worked at a hotel. When I used to come home after work I remember never wanting to go back out again — I was really frightened, because I could see the bombs dropping all around me.

I was also in the firefighters, and we used to go out a lot with that. There were six of us altogether, and we had to walk two miles in two’s to meet the other group.

In 1940, I left the hotel, and went to work at the Zephyr Engineering works (A factory) in Shrewsbury. I lived in Harley at the time though, and had to bike to work every day for six o’ clock in the morning. I got paid 11 pounds 15 and sixpence a month — that’s after tax. I used to get 2 pounds extra a week because I was in charge.

I was actually an inspector on the line — making petrol filters for aeroplanes. If my line name and number was found on a faulty one I was in big trouble because those parts were vital on planes.

We used to all get together — eight of us in my bay, and we used to do raffles and things, to make money for the blind boys at St Dustan’s, [A home and rehabilitation centre run by a charity for service men and women who have significant problems with their sight — this particular home was based in Church Stretton and was set up when the home in Ovingdean became too dangerous during the war]. We used to take our money, and meet them for lunch, and take them treats and cigarettes and chocolates. It was lovely, it made them really happy.

I really loved working at the Zephyr, everyone I worked with was really charming, and we kept in touch for years after.

I remember being in Shrewsbury when German aircraft were flying over once. They flew so low we could see the swastika! I also remember one night they were dropping bombs on the railway up at Greenfields.

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Becky Barugh of the Shropshire Libraries on behalf of Alice Rowe and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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