大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by volunteer from The Chepstow Society on behalf of Mary Price and has been added to the site with her permission. Mary Price fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

MARY PRICE

PARENTS

Father served in the Royal Artillery during the FIRST WORLD WAR looking after the mules on the front line - was wounded and came home to become a gardener.

Mary鈥檚 father was born in St.Arvans and her mother came to St. Arvans from Newport at the age of 2 years.

Mary鈥檚 grandfather was a coffin-maker and wheelwright in St. Arvans.

WAR YEARS

Mary remembers the bombing of Bristol. Also when a bomb was dropped at Itton Court by a bomber returning to Germany. Their ARP Warden was Martin Smith(Postman) who called next day to tell them about this.

Mary became friends with an evacuee Ann Johnson who stayed during the war years with Colonel Fargus at The Woodlands (no longer there). Her friend now lives in California and Mary has recently returned from visiting her in California.

Mary remembers ther RAF aeroplanes at The Racecourse, also the different groups of Americans, Belgians and Gurkhas who were stationed in Chepstow. Also the German prisoners of war at The Racecourse.

SCHOOL

Went to St. Arvans School. Evacuee children came to the school from Shorncliff, together with some teachers - Mary remembers a Miss Bolten - and Mrs Slade who eventually lived in Sedbury until she died.

HOME LIFE

Mary鈥檚 family received food parcels from her father鈥檚 sister in America(cheese, Christmas cake, etc).

EVENTS

Dances in the Memorial Hall and The Racecourse. Collecting pots, saucepans, and the railings for the war effort.

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