大象传媒

Staffs County Council libraries, on behalf
of the author, have submitted this story. The author fully understands the rules and regulations of the People's War website.

My fiance, Raymond had been called up in the Royal Air Force and was posted to Arbroath on the North East coast of Scotland. I was going with my friend to spend a week's holiday at Arbroath and hopefully see something of him.
We left Stoke station for Edinburgh. A journey on the L.M.S Railway Company during the war years was very different than travelling in peace time. There were posters on all stations "Is your Journey really necessary?" No longer were the railways tempting you to use them more, but were trying to restrict your travelling.
There were all sorts of people on the move-ordinary civilians, members of the Women's Land Army, the army, the navy, the fleet air-arm, the R.A.F, servicemen and women of all descriptions and of many nationalities all with their distinctive uniform.
The big stations had their Forces' Canteen, manned by voluntary workers who dispensed tea and refreshments to all the forces. Many were going or returning from leave. Some were being moved to other areas in the British Isles, others on their way to being posted abroad.
Everyone was very friendly. We would talk to each other, and in this connection we had to be very careful what we said for there were notices to remind us that "Careless talk cost lives" and "Be like Dad and keep Mum".
Our journey proceeded agreeably and we thought that the train would arrive in Edinburgh on time enabling us to find accommodation before darkness fell and the black-out was upon us.
It was whilst we were congratulating ouselves on this point that the air-raid sirens sounded and the train came to a halt. The carriage darkened and our travelling companions were scarcely visible. We had no fear of the bombs that might be droppped or of our fellow travellers. We knew that the forces would not assault us. There was peace even in War Time. You could walk home late at night in the black-out and feel safe. We all helped each other then.
The soldier sitting next to me, put his great coat over my legs to protect me from the awful draught that was coming in throug the carriage door. There was no suggestion of anything improper. I felt perfectly secure. We seemed to be ages and ages waiting for the "all clear" to sound and started singing to while away the time.
The "all clear" siren sounded and we continued on our way arriving at Edinburgh two hours late. Most large stations had an advice bureau, again staffed by voluntary helpers. We made our way to the advice bureau, again staffed by voluntary helpers. We made our way to the advice bureau and were given an address where we could get bed and breakfast accommodation. Fortunately for us it was not far from the station and we each had a torch in our handbags. There was an element of excitement in visiting a strange town in the black-out. We found the road. It contained those large houses in Victorian times with many steps leading to the front door. We went up to one to find the number and calculate how far we had to go beforewe reached our final destination. It was quite a way along the road, and we noticed a tiny light coming and going and realised that this was our home for the night. Sure enough there was a little lady waiting for us - not daring to show any light otherwise the air-raid warden would notice and reprimand her, but at the same time wanting to guide us to our lodgings for the night. How kind the little lady was! We told her that our train to Arbroath went early in the morning and we would pay her now so as not to disturb her, bue she insisted on getting up early and giving us a good Scottish breakfast before we went on our way.
Our journey to Arbroath proceeded in day-light and again we were fortunate in having a kind hearted land lady. During the day we explored the surrounding countryside and in the evenings I saw Raymond and Gladys his friend. The week passed all too quickly and apart from his embarkation leave this was the last time I was to see Raymond for almost six years as he was posted to the Far East.
Gladys and I spent another holiday together at Carnforth and visited Morecombe. The coast line was covered with barbed-wire and it was no longer the sea-side resort of the past but the centre for the recruitment for the W.A.A.F We sat on a bank overlooking the sea-shore ad watched the new recruits going through their drill on the sands.
Both of us imagined that we were in reserved occupations and not likely to be called up, but on our arrival at home we each received a letter informing us that we would soon be called up and from that time our lives were to change as we started on our journey into the unknown.

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