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I joined the A.T.S. in October 1939 expecting to enrol for local service, living at home and working in Taunton, but that was no longer an option. After a brief interview and medical I was enrolled. In November I was ordered to report to 12th Somerset Company A.T.S. at Paddington Station then on to Herne Bay. Some girls had pre- war service, but the majority were new volunteers. Our rank was Volunteer, but this later changed to Private. New recruits had no training and no uniform. When uniform was issued it was so ill- fitting that we frequently sent it to the cleaners so that we could revert to mufti.

Our officer had a limp, and she had a dog called Algie. After learning to march we went on parade with her in front and Algie on a lead. Eventually we were issued with better fitting uniforms, complete with thick stockings and passion- killer khaki bloomers. Initially we slept on palliasses. It was very cold, but we worked hard and were generally very happy. Two A.T.S. companies worked for the R.A.S.C. The Gloucester Company were cooks and orderlies, and we were clerical. Before we heard of the Dunkirk evacuation the whole unit was moved north by troop train. Passing through Kent we saw trainloads of wounded. In Stockton- on- Tees A.T.S. were billeted in unoccupied houses. One, allocated to the Gloucester Company, had bugs in. In spite of complaints they were told to move in, so some of us joined them sitting on the pavement as protest. Another house was then found.

We then moved to Barnard Castle. Men were billeted, and we worked in a disused mill by the river. Our theme song was ‘Nellie Dean’. Shortly the unit was split and my company moved to Middleton- in- Teesdale. The A.T.S. consisted of a Sergeant in charge, with cooks, orderlies, and me. As I was a Private I was clerk, and money was sent weekly to me, and I paid us all. We were billeted with families, and mine uniquely had a bathroom. People were very friendly and often asked us to meals when we explored the countryside. On free weekends I used to hitchhike home on my own, which was quite safe those days. A minor misdemeanour was getting caught not wearing your cap. Once after cautions it resulted in two of us scrubbing the bathrooms one Saturday as punishment.

In 1941 the unit was disbanded. The Gloucester A.T.S. went to Wiltshire I think, but as clerks we went to Minehead as cooks and orderlies. I worked in a male officers mess as a waitress. If an officer became ‘difficult’ you could ‘accidentally’ spill soup on them. When a vacancy for filing clerk was available I was moved back to office work and stopped there ‘till I went O.C.T.U.

This story was entered on The People's War website by Stuart Ross on behalf of Lina McSheehy, who fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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