大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Sue Sutton on behalf of John Sweetham, the author and has been added to the site with his permission. The author full understands the site's terms and conditions.

During the war I was living at my home in Melksham Wiltshire.

Father was a jeweller (9 High Street Melksham/Chas Hart & Sons Ltd Jewellers) we lived on the premises. My father had been called up so was not at home.

Frequently we had enemy aircrafts flying over head on the way to a bombing raid on Bath or Bristol.

If the bombers had not released their pay load on their target they would release them on their return to Germany.

Consequently my mother became very nervous about security should a wall of the property be 'blown out' because of this one of the shop assistants Joan Watts (Nee Selman) was 'retained' to 'live in' to support my mother and look after myself.

I still have contact with Joan now in her 80's currently living at Atworth. She herself has many war stories as does her cousin Daphne.

Father returning home on leave to find Daphne serving in the shop wearing "the fashion of the day" slacks (trousers). Father considered these inappropriate for a jewellers shop assistant (war or no war!) sent her home to change into something more appropriate!

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