大象传媒

I was ten years old when the war broke out during September 1939. I lived in Cambridge, a village situated between Bristol and Gloucester. My father was the village policeman. I attended the local village school, and I was completely unaware of any impending events. The first thing that really made an impression was my Dad taking a cup of tea up to my Uncle and Aunt, who were staying with us and saying 鈥淚 really think this is it, Hitler has got till 11 am to reply, Chamberlain is broadcasting at the time, can't miss that.鈥� Unfortunately, there was an accident out on the main Bristol/Gloucester road, and my dad had to attend. He missed it anyway! I do remember though my Mum and Aunt both shedding tears and saying that it had only been 20 years from the last war, and please God this would not last.
The local men from the village formed the 鈥渉ome guard鈥� and my dad, as an ex- guardsman would put them through their paces for drill, always ending up in the local hostelry for refreshments!
Then the bombing of Bristol started and things began to change. I remember my mother waking us up one night and taking us downstairs to sleep (just in case we had to get out of the house) From the back bedroom window we could see the sky lit by the fires of the city, and we could hear the thump of the bombs as they fell. We soon learned to identify the noise of the German bombers as they followed the River Severn to their target. At this time one of our fighters was downed on the mudflats. When my dad went to the scene amazingly the pilot was unhurt. He looked at my dad and said 鈥淚 suppose your going to do me for reckless driving鈥� Such was the humour of the day.
After each serious bombing incident all local 鈥渂obbies鈥� were collected from the various stations to go on guard duty at the various bombsites. They were armed and the idea was to deter looters. This happened when Bath was bombed, and also Coventry and Birmingham.
I remember when the evacuees came to the village, and billeted with local people. Many friends were made at that time, but many returned to their homes after a while. By this time I was attending the Grammer School at Dursley and we had to share the school building with the Mosely School of Art from Birmingham, and the Harrogate High School. We used to go to school in the morning and they would use the buildings in the afternoon.
At about this time my dad was posted to Moreton-In-The-Marsh in the Cotswolds. Normally a quiet country town this was now a real garrison town. It boasted an aerodrome with full personnel, a large W.A.A.F camp aswell and at Stow-On-The Wold, 4 miles away the Pioneer Corp. These units were then joined by the 6th armoured division of the American Army. A large Prisoner of War camp was built at Bourton鈥擮n-The-Hill just outside the town, and also an American Hospital was built at Blockley about 3 miles away. A large contingent of black Americans was stationed at Addlestrop just down the line.
My dad was by then Sergeant in charge of this area and was supported by two police constables who lived in, and several special constables. The guardroom was also Head Quarters to the various Military police belonging to the different units. I have seen the station surrounded by aggrieved servicemen demanding the release of their mates who had been arrested. Eventually the different factions were allowed certain times for access to the town to try and keep them apart.
As the war progressed the German prisoners of war began to arrive. They would come into the rail station and be marched to the camp on the hill. Here they were cleaned up, their records taken and then they were shipped back out, going to Canada and the U.S. Even in defeat they were both proud and arrogant and still marched like true soldiers. Singing their marching songs. All the officers had their cases carried by their troopers. They were the only ones with luggage. When they left they were usually sent out during the night hours, still singing, we had so many sleepless nights.
General Patton visited the town just before the Normandy landings, there was quite a parade for their march past. I can still hear the sound of the military band playing all the wartime songs while they waited. We had many G.I Brides in the town, and it was a very sad time for a lot of them when the troops left. Within a short time many were returning to be treated at the hospital and were then shipped home. By this time I had left school and started work. I was 15 or 16 when I left school. I worked for the local council, just at the end of the war, but I shall always remember V.E. night when my dad, the special police and military police gave us a firework display second to none. They let off all the fireworks that had been confiscated at the beginning of hostilities, and had been lying dormant all that time in one of the store cupboards in the police station. VJ day in Morton-In-The Marsh followed later in the year. Not so spectacular, but so welcome. Everyone was out etc. Life returned to normal, and within the twelve months that followed my Dad was posted back to Bristol. Moreton was a garrison town 鈥� and it was difficult being a policeman鈥檚 daughter during the war. We were expected to set an example, but we were normal young people. The police were very well occupied during the war because there was a lot of looting and stealing.

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