大象传媒

I was living and working in Tisbury when war was declared. My job was cashier and bookeeper at Blakes the butchers. The manager was the propriotor鈥檚 brother鈥檚 brother and I lived with him his wife and daughter. Her name is Nina and she was and still is my best friend. Naturally I had a boyfriend whose name was Eric Marshall and he was born and bred in Tisbury. Being disabled having lost his left leg to ostiomilitis at the age of six. He wasn鈥檛 called up for servoce but joined the Observer Corps. Their lookout post being a hut at the top of Monmouth hill.

We married in 1940 and lived at Jubilee house . I continued working until 1942 when Malcolm our son arrived. In 1943 when were lucky enough to rent a house at Alexanda House in Hindon Lane.

Later that year evacuees bombed out of London descended on Tisbury. Those that could offer accommodation were invited to the Old Sunday school room in tne high street to meet them. I went along and chose a three - year old boy called Richard Cole and heavily pregnant mother. In a matter of weeks she gave birth to Mary. Mr Cole came down every weekend to visit his family.

Going back to Jublilee House we had countless lodgers who were servicemen and their wives. We were surrounded by troops in camps in Fonthill Park , the old workhouse Monmouth hill and Mowhawk. Regiments were Oxon Bucks , Royal Artillery Royal Signals , Welsh Guards , survey Regiment , Royal Engineers , plus American Australians and Polish. My two eldest sisters Betha and Una were called up to go on munitions at the Westlands factory.

There was a terrible British plane crash at Plaice farm and all the crew were killed.

In May 1945 on VE night we had a hurried celebration on the high street. We dressed Malcolm up as Monty.

Pictures (to follow)
The Cole family Doris
Stan who stayed at Jubilee house
Jim Young centre

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