大象传媒

I am submitting this story on behalf of my friend, Win Morss. Win is aware of the 大象传媒's Rights And Responsibilities Policy and has agreed to her story being told under them.

Win is a Londoner by birth and during the war she lived and worked in Walthamstow. Her father was killed in World War 1. Win was aware that war was imminent once Neville Chamberlain鈥檚 infamous piece of paper was proved to be worthless. She found employment in Pollard鈥檚 Aircraft Company in Walthamstow.

The men she worked alongside were all highly skilled craftsmen and were members of the Woodworkers鈥� Union. Win speaks very highly of their skill, dedication and team spirit. Morale was high and the work force was a cohesive and diligent unit and not a single day was lost owing to industrial action, despite their misfortune in having a less than satisfactory boss. The work force worked in pairs: a man and a woman and the factory was open from 8am to 7pm.

The planes produced by the factory were: the Albemarle, a small bomber used when the 2nd Front was opened. This aircraft also carried supplies and hauled gliders. The Hauser glider was also produced at the factory. Skilled work was carried out on improving the rudder of the Halifax bomber in order to increase its manoeuvrability.

In due course Win became a shop steward. There was blatant sex discrimination in that women were denied equal pay for equal work. However, Win managed to effect some improvement in this regard.

The foregoing is only half the story. The Luftwaffe was giving Walthamstow its undivided attention in what has become known as the Blitz. At this time Win lived in Brooke Rd., aptly named when bomb damage caused it to be flooded. Win鈥檚 Anderson shelter was flooded. Undaunted, Win鈥檚 family dug it out and reassembled it in the 鈥渕iddle downstairs room of the house.鈥� A neighbour鈥檚 house received a direct hit and a land mine blew up in the road. At no time did Win see any panic. Naturally, there was fear, but someone always had a jocular remark to hand, even when everyone was running for cover.

Win makes the point that fear was greatest after the evacuation from Dunkirk. Certainly, when France fell, the outlook looked grim indeed. However, this was when the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill made his greatest speeches.

Win now lives in comfortable retirement in Edinburgh and can look back on a long life which has lacked nothing in variety and drama.

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