大象传媒

I enlisted at Ipswich, reported for duty on July 19th 1940 getting myself to Euston Station by 12.30 to look out for an A.T.S. Officer in uniform. Many were there, ushered into a train that was to take us to York, then on to Lancaster. I was marched to the hospital which had been taken over by the army. I walked into the dining room which was a mess, the table had been laid out with bread and jam, no one used their manners, everyone just grabbed what the could. I found I had to do the same or go hungry.

There was no rest after that long journey. Everyone had their heads inspected and had a medical. Then I was shown up to the dormitories, I choose the top bunk. The next day we were inoculated and vaccinated. Lucky mine never took, some girls had terrible arms. It was 3 weeks at Lancaster training. Beautiful weather, we were kitted out with uniform, everything had to be marked and polished.The army shoes, gave us blisters, route marching in the heat, there was no sympathy. The Sergeant Major shouted at us on the parade square, marching 'left, right, left, swing those arms, click those heels.' Reveille was at 6.30, time to queue up for washing etc. Beds to be left, every blanket folded at the top of the bed. Breakfast was another mad scramble, lights out, after roll call, ten o' clock no talking.

Many girls left, before the three weeks were up, I made up my mind to stick at it. After three weeks traininng I was given the opportunity to stay on for the six weeks cooks' course, which I throughly enjoyed. We came out of the building, lived in bell tents, built our own ovens with bricks, tins and mud. I got on very well with the officer in charge and passed out as a 1st class cook.

Posting came through for me to report to a company in Anglesey, North Wales. I made a fuss and stood out that I'd joined the A.T.S. to be with my Suffolk friends, in the 12th Suffolk Platoon. They took pity on me, "well in the mean time, you will come and cook in the officers mess." There must have been about 50, there were over 300 girls, a batch of 100 coming in every week, with 100 going out, so many officers. I enjoyed that, made friends, a beautiful part of the country.

I toured the Lake District one weekend, one never knew there was a war on, then the posting came through to join my friends in Suffolk, after a 7 day leave.

I travelled to Shenfield Station, and was met there and went to Thoby Prior, Mountnessing, Essex. No peace there, bombs dropped all around us, as they left London but we were just 12 A.T.S. living in the Lodge, men in the Priory. There I cooked for Officers, plenty of food, when they entertained, I have known them to have had 7 courses, we would go to the black market for extra food. There were only six Officers, the Colonel and other Officers were at Margaretting.

We had our time off, actually I attended confirmation classes in Margaretting and was confirmed by the Bishop of Chelmsford. The moral had to be kept up, plenty of concerts and dances. We slept well in spite of the rough army blankets, there was no sheets or pillows in 1940, they came later.

It came hard to leave Thoby Priory, my next posting was to Leigh-On-Sea. From there I was sent on another cooks course to Aldershot under master chefs, from Lyons Corner House cafes. Before leaving Thoby Priory, I had one stripe, but then I was sent to a Corporals course at Caterham in Surrey, the Guards Depot and came out with two and extra pay. To start it was 7/6d a week extra after the six week course at Lancaster, gradually working up to 拢2 a week with Corporals pay and 1st class cook.

Netley, next move to an AckAck gun site. it was horrible down there, shrapnel from our own guns, fell around the cookhouse. 1st A.T.S. was killed at that site. Steel helmet. My legs shook when the alarms went, cooks had to get up, provide hot drinks for the gunners, but one got used to it. After 8 weeks, I asked for a posting back to the R.A.S.C. and came to Westerfield House, Ipswich where the officers decided I was to cook for them, but not for long, I was to take charge of the cookhouse and I had six girls working two shifts. While there, the mess cook at our other platoon at Tovy Mache Place at Bentley was taken ill, the Major sent me there. A lovely place, the only A.T.S., but I was fetched every night and taken to work every morning.

Then, I was sent on a N.C.O. course to Durham. It was very cold. The course finished in time to get back to our Companies before Christmas Day. My results came through in the New Year, passed, so a celebration. The war finished whilst at Westerfield House, Ipswich, another celebration at the local pub.

One of my postings before I was demobbed was at Tonbridge, later Tunbridge Wells. There I met Jane the Lance Corporal cook. We have been friends to the present day.

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