大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Jabulani Chwaula from WM CSV Action Desk on behalf of Arthur Musson and has been added to the site with his permission. Arthur Musson fully understands the sites terms and conditions

Prior to getting married in September 1944 we had purchased a house in Gleneagles Road Yardley for 拢800 (selling price when new in 1937 was 拢390).The house had been very badly neglected and damaged, and a lot of work was necessary. I did all the internal repairs. We had all the external paint work burnt off and repainted at a cost of 拢9.50.

Internally all the wallpaper was stripped off and the wood work rubbed down. Woodwork was repainted and all of the walls distempered (no emulsion in those days).This cost 拢24.50.A little different to today鈥檚 cost but so were he wages.

Curtains, floor covering and nearly all furniture were on coupons. Utility furniture was practically all that was available at the time and was of limited range and to government specification. Most if it looked like boxes with cotton reels for handles.

Linoleum was practically the only floor covering that was available and we were allowed sufficient to lay a square in two small rooms.

On the stairs we put what we had left off on the treads and painted the risers the same colour. You could always hear anyone going up and down. No wooden floors for me after that experience.

We had arranged to have the wedding reception in the hall at the Starbank road School Small Heath. Catering for a wedding at the time was very difficult with war time rationing and shortages of food, but like everyone else we managed.

However just before the wedding day we were informed that the school had been requisitioned to take refugees from the south-East where they were being bombarded with flying bombs and VI rockets. With so little time left we held the reception at Mary鈥檚 mother鈥檚 house.

The ceremony took place at Yardley Church on the 2nd September 1944.The day was very wet, which made things even more difficult for guests as they had to use public transport. The few people who had cars could not use them due to petrol rationing.

We went on honeymoon to Ludlow on the Sunday morning, travelling by Midland Red bus. I had to stand up all of the way. (No exotic foreign honeymoons those days, the only chance of travelling abroad was in the forces.) The weather was the wettest week on record for September so we came home on the Thursday.

This and all of my stories are as accurate a record of my wartimes experiences as I can remember, but after 60 years, am sure there are some errors for which I apologise.

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