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These stories were submitted to the People's War site by Christine Wadsworth of Wakefield Libraries and Information Services on behalf of Doreen H. and Joyce W. and have been added to the site with their permission. The authors fully understand the site's terms and conditions.

We had sweets every week usually toffee and mint imperials. We got 6d(2½p) plus a 2oz coupon. I was walking with father from Minsthorpe in the blackout and heard something coming towards us — it mooed — it was a cow!

We had three special ration books for bananas.One day we went to the shop for our usual rations, mother asked if she could have her ration of bananas and was told there weren't any, but she knew there was so she gave him the rations back and took our ration books somewhere else.

A close relative was a territorial and was called up from off the pit stack where he worked and into the Navy. Based on Malta, he was then sent out to the Middle East on repair ships, repairing destroyers and corvettes. He was an Engineer a Petty Officer.
After the War he only talked about the amusing things that happened during the War.The local athletic club had collected money for people serving and sent him a letter with 7/6 (37½p)and an apology. He sent a reply that there was no need to apologise as "like the vicar who was given a cherry brandy, it's not the cherry, it's the spirit it's given in", and it was published in the local paper.

Another close relative was a despatch rider in the Army, but so many man had been taken from the pit that coal production had been affected and he was given a Class B release. When ready for age registration he went to Sheffield and when he told them he had a Class B release they sent him into the Navy saying “ If they don’t want you, we do"

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