大象传媒

I was living in Shepherdswell nr Dover as a young girl. I was evacuated to Bournemouth with the customary gas mask, brown leather suitcase and an identity tag. Very soon I was extremely homesick and returned to my mother in Sheperdswell. Later I saw an advertisement in the Dover local newspaper for a pianist to join 'Duke and his accordian Band' playing nightly in Dover Town Hall for the troops. Despite being only 15 years old at the time, I was accepted and played nightly during 1944/5. I had a white suit with red piping made especially for me, with underwear made from parachute silk! The lace trim was obtained from Hattons of Dover.
During frequent shell warnings we all went to a shelter under the Town Hall where the band carried on playing the accordian and singing loudly with the troops.
About 2/300 soldiers camped around the town in tents and trenches. We could see the Doodlebugs travelling towards London.
In the centre of the village of Shepherdswell was a Big Bertha Gun. When shelling was to be carried out in retaliation for 2 hours at a time. we were told to open all the windows to prevent them shattering as the noise was so loud.
I remember two restaurants in Dover - Sugarloaf and Bowketts where it was a favourite meeting place with boyfriends to enjoy the most delicious Cream Horns.
Going to the cinema was quite interesting. The local bus ran only every 4 hours and so it was quite usual to see the end of the film first, because the bus home came before the end of the film!
This story was submitted to the People's War site by Gillian Estall and has been added to the website on behalf of Eunice Wilmot nee Arbuckle who fully understands the site's terms and conditions

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.