大象传媒

I eventyually reached the agewhen i should decide what i was going to do for essential work, i decided to volunteer for the forces. The only one i could join was A.T.S and i went for a medical, past and eventually recieved my notification to pledge that i wanted to join and took my first army pay, if i remember rightly it was 2/-d and i had to swear on the bible my allegiance to king and country.

After the six week training at Pontefract being issued with uniforms and given various injections against diseases and vaccination. Isaid goodbye to the friends i had made and was posted to York to be a short hand typist in Northen Command Quartering department. Sadly i was the only one to go to York. I was given a railway pass and directions and told to report for duty at the A.T.S Company office

It turned out to be a lovely posting. We lived in a very old yellow brick house, gas light only and just a few yards on the opposite side of the road was a hotel which were our offices, the army having requisitioned the properties. They were on the main Tadcaster Road and very near to York racecourse were we did morning exercises and runs before starting work.

Eventually we had to pack up and move into Fulford barracks on the otherside of York. This meant sleeping in a hut with approx. 30 other girls. Going across the square to the Mess for all our meals then walking to Northern Command H.Q. The Polish liaison officer was needing some translation typing and asked would i oblige, due to being a touch typist i would type the Polish letter for letter and when i got moved i still could not speak or understand Pollish. The Free French Airforce were also stationed around York, so we were never short of partners at dances.

My mother wasn't very well with Asthma and i asked for a Compassionate posting home which eventually came through, and i then lived at home but travelled to Hollinwood Manchester, to the army company office and when they went south i transfered to Rochdale Road, Manchester. I travelled with another A.T.S girl and a young man who was in the army who both lived in my home town. It was a long day the 6:00am train to Manchester then a walk to another station to get to work and i was only allowed to catch the 6:10pm back home.

I really was glad when i recieved my papers for demob. if i could have finished my time in York i would of been really sad.

When i went to York to get demobbed. i unfortunately didn't see one person i knew, i good job my father accompanied me.

PTE. PRITCHARD J. NO 307507 (Mrs Joyce Shaw)

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