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I trained in Oswestry, Salop, to become a member of Ack Ack. I was stationed in Hyde Park, then when the Doodle bombs started to come over London, we moved to the coast.

Fairlight Glen—we were under canvas-had terrible storms and flooding. Fortunately we ATS had beds, so it was out of bed, straight into Wellingtons, standing by the side of the bed, on a duck board. Things got so bad that we were issued with a rum ration—men had it neat, ladies in tea.

Shortly after this we volunteered for abroad. Didn’t know where we were going, till we landed in Ostend. I remember the children asking if we were German. We set up our site, or rather the men in our battery did. We were in Nisson Huts. The men felled the trees and we ATS had to saw logs for the bunker. We had a terrific fall of snow and the water wagons could not get through. So we melted the snow to clean our teeth. Lived on tinned food, heated on parrifin blowers. Our diet supplemented by vitamin pills. I can remember saving our margarine, to give it to a Belgian family. They’d been without fat for a long time—under German rule—they were so grateful.

Spring came and with it the peace—we celebrated in true British fashion, and the civilians brought out their Xmas decorations and hung them from house to house before VJ. We moved to Versendaal, near Hamburg. We flew in Dakotas—sitting on ammo boxes. We were under canvas. Weather was glorious.

For a while we weren’t allowed out of camp without an armed escort. Who had to call in the Gaurds room and sign for you. We went into Hamburg for a bath. So few buildings standing. The roads had been cleared and German folks lived (under the rubble of their homes) in the cellars. There was one club standing, I believe it was called ‘The Green Dragon’ or such. Peace, VJ was celebrated here. Happy days. Hard times—but the comradeship was quite something. Wouldn’t have missed it for worlds.

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