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One of the worse things for people to put up with was the blackout. No lights anywhere and you had to carry a torch but only with a very small beam. Going into the house you had to close the door and all curtains before putting on a light. Car headlights had a strip of tape to mask part of the light. Trains had green lights and this made people look ghostly. They purloined all railings in gardens and parks to melt down. Also people’s kettles and pans.

My friend and I were in the civil defence we were often called out to rescue people who had been shot down over the sea. Driver and attendant just had orders and had to get on with it. The ambulance I drove was a Ringtons Tea Van and another was a yellow laundry van. All the vehicles were old.

Had to go to fish quay for ice to keep the medicines cool and to put on people’s limbs as ice packs.

People were being conscripted to the war effort but we wanted to join a superior outfit and one of our choice — where they had sheets — so we joined the Wrens in 1940.

I was sent to Kings Cross and stayed at 41 Parkstone Gardens in Earls Court and was there when tube station was bombed. Trained as a mail clerk and the second part of course was the Counter school and we were based in Cheney Walk in Chelsea, right on Thames. Worked in Euston Road at Counter school. Progressed to being in charge of registering mail.

HMS Helger at St Osyph was a holiday camp in Essex with 1500 personnel on board ship. Had a mess deck, quarter deck with a huge flag mast and the flag was raised every morning and lowered at night. The bugle played and everyone had to stand to attention wherever they were on ship, face the flag and salute. Had to walk along sea wall to the Abbey School for ablution block. Our quarters were in Nisson huts with coke stoves in middle of room. Eight bunks in each, 2 tiers. Nancy Spain (the author) was my Recruiting Officer. Everywhere we went we had to use landing craft to cross water. Clacton and Brightlingsea were nearest towns.

Went to Mount Pleasant sorting office and travelled on mail train on underground. Enjoyed looking at shops in Knightsbridge on way to work.

All forces people given free tickets to see dress rehearsal of new shows in London and we enjoyed this.

Met husband who was a Marine in 1943 and married in 1944. I was part of Combined Operations and no Marines were part of this until 1943. Everyone really excited about them coming but they upset the apple cart as other forces were jealous of them.

Had to have passes for sleeping out and dockets for everything including underwear. Cigarettes were ticklers in a tickler tin. Anything that was stolen was called a rabbit.

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