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AT the beginning of the war I was employed at Imperial Typewriters, East Park Road Leicester, as a Tool Grinder. It was while I worked here, I had a good social life and a regular girlfriend, a Majors Daughter. One day my boss said we were to be visited by Ministry of Labour.. These selected 6 of us for special assignment to Lockheed at Narborough Road Leicester. We were making leg hydraulics for different aircraft, including Spitfires. Can you imagine somebody coming from nowhere and ordering you to leave all you knew and go to somewhere you did not want to go! Especially after four years. Although I kept out of the way, they still found me and selected me. But this was a sign of the times that most of us had to suffer and endure. I could have kicked them up the proverbial backside.

We worked stolidly for over four years, and then as soon as the war ended, we were told we were no longer required.

I was fortunate enough to meet my loving wife at Lockheed, we got married and we stayed happily together for over 62 years. People who generally had higher standards very often stayed together longer, and most definitely a life — long commitment was viewed seriously and honourably.

After the Lockheed hard work period of 7 days a week and 12 hour shifts, we were all looking forward to a well earned rest and time to ourselves and our families. And try and sort a decent job out.
We felt that we had earned the break and we were reluctant to leave our homes, but we had to report for National Service Recruitment. Also as well as the hard work schedule, I had to report for Home Guard Training and duty during the time at Lockheed.

I joined the R.A.F. as a mechanic and was dispatched to Germany.. I was there for ten months of my two year service period. Fraternising with the fraulines was forboden.
Because we had been semi-trained in the Home Guard the training was easier than most. I was released from service, my wife Betty wanted me home, was glad for me to be home. I was more than glad, something I had longed for’ for the past two years.

The one good thing from this National Service was it gave me an extra profession of mechanic. Which I made a living from for a while. Then I went into the coal mining industry, the money was good, so that I could provide for my family of three sons’.

I later retired from the pits. I generally feel that I enjoy my retirement, even more, probably because of my previous hard working life.

'This story was submitted to the People's War site by Rod Aldwinckle of the CSV Action Desk on behalf of John Derek Bailey and has been added to the site with his / permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions

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