大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's war site by Helen Oram, Scotland csv on behalf of Muriel Mutch and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

It was a different world, being in the Wrens. Everybody was called up, regardless of rank. I associated with titled women who had been debutantes. My choice of work was driving as I had been driving vehicles on farm roads from age 12, and my Dad had taught me how to reverse a furniture lorry.

I did my training in London and was posted to Eglinton near Londonderry. Most of the time I drove 3 and 5-ton Commer trucks. I then went to the Fleet Air Arm at Abbotsinch, then was transferred to HMS Baccintie at Aberdeen, my home town.

While there, my work experience was very different from that of other Wrens. I was attached as a rating to HMS Thalassa, a yacht which had been left for use by the Navy at the start of the war. It opened my eyes to how certain others live.

The main lounge and dining area were walnut-panelled and the Captain's quarters and other cabins had ensuite facilities of white marble with gold-plated taps. I did not live on board but got my food in the officers' mess. As well as the crew there were scientists on board engaged in secret research in the Aberdeeen/Peterhead area. I later found out it was Asdic, under-water radar.

I remember a very bad winter during the war. I had been driving a consignment of guns to Buckie, for mine-sweepers. On our return in a massive snowstorm, we were stuck for three nights in drifts at the Dens of Fyvie.

One of the sailors was recently married and was due to go on leave. He was determined to go . Myself and two sailors set off to walk through the deep snow. We bound up our legs with nicky tams (as used by farm-workers at the time: canvas bags tied on to your legs).

At Fyvie Station we were not allowed on any trains as we did not have passes. We heard that the milk lorries were getting through from Oldmeldrum to Inverurie. We struggled the seven miles to Oldmeldrum. At one point we went up a slope and found ourselves on the roof of a barn. One of the sailors was on the point of giving up and sitting down in the snow. I bought us each a double whisky at the pub at Oldmeldrum. We travelled to Inverurie on a cart behind a tractor, sitting on milk-churns, and from there to Aberdeen in the same way.

My legs and shoulders were black and blue from the weight of the snow, so I called in sick the next day. The first thing the Transport officer said was,"Did you drain the radiator?" It took three weeks to get the vehicle out of the snow.

I rember we had a sailor working with us who had been badly affected after being torpedoed and would not speak to anyone. He was from the little North-east village, Sandend. I was able to relate to him by asking where he came from. I used the local pronounciation,"Saneyn" and he nodded. After that he improved. I never needed to wash my lorry or do petrol ckecks as John did all that for me.

Although I lost a lot of friends and young people I grew up with who were killed in the war, I enjoyed my war years. I met so many interesting people.

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