大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Jenny Ford on behalf of Mrs. Mary Reynolds and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I was 12 years old when WW2 started and was living in Stanway, Essex. Council staff came around to supply and fit gas masks. My mother insisted that we did not want one as the war would not last long! My mother, Mrs. M. E. Reynolds died in November 1939 of cancer and I was sent to an orphanage in Stanway, outside Colchester. I was there for three years and then went into 'Service' with a family living at Northwood, Middlesex.

Whilst working in Northwood I required two weeks rest and in order to get back home in Colchester I required a Pass as Colchester was a Military town. When I was 18 years old I was paid 7/6d per week plus lodging and food. I hadn't got called up as I was too young.

I got married to George, a RAF aircraft mechanic in 1946 when I was 18. I only had clothing coupons but I managed to wear a white dress, the last one in the shop. We rented a flat in Willesden although the area was bomb damaged and the rent was 拢1 0s 0d per week. George was stationed at Northwood and he used the railway to commute daily. There were a dozen or so Italian POWs there too. George was demobbed in 1946. He promptly got a job working in a factory that made secateurs. His wage was 拢6 0s 0d a week and he used to cycle the three miles. The hours were 8am until 5pm, five days a week.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.