´óÏó´«Ã½

This story was submitted to the People’s War Site by Three Counties Action, on behalf of Elaine Lewis, and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

I was ten when the war broke out and recall it as an exciting time with dogfights visible from Harrow-on —the —Hill — we could see the aeroplanes manoeuvre. The Black Market was plentiful — if you had the money, and there were still clubs and good restaurants to go to. The rest used British Restaurants.

I collected shrapnel. I recall a telephone box in Harrow took a direct hit. All that was left of a woman inside were her shoes on the floor; her brains were on the wall.

As a girl I can recall being taken into films that were a little too old for me.

I moved to North Luffenham in Rutland with my stepfather, he was a fire chief in the air force.

There was a little pub in the village, with a piano around which the airman would sing. Someone turning over a glass at the bar would mark the death of a member of an aircrew member.

I liked the Americans. They were very generous and, although polite, less reserved than the British.

We used to rub the back of the ration books so that they could be re-used. We had some success although I suspect that some shopkeepers connived.

I married my husband in 1948. He served in Burma and this contributed to his subsequent ill health. He was wounded and had field surgery, and died at 69. He talked about some experiences, but not others although after a couple of brandies he would talk until 4am. He was worried about bits that he couldn’t talk about.

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