大象传媒

Patricia Martin is willing to have her story entered onto the Peoples War website and agrees to abide by the House Rules.

Sometime during World War II I was about 16 years old and had been invited to go to Exeter and stay with my cousin Sybil in order to visit the ballet at the Theatre Royal. She had 'digs' near the Eye Hospital but her war work was in the service of the F.A.N.Y's First Aid or Field Ambulance. (I can never remember which) Nursing Yeomanry I'll have to check that soon! She was like a big sister to me being 13 years older. It was organised that I would go up by train and Sybil would meet me. Well all that went well. We returned to her 'digs' and after she changed out of her uniform, off to the ballet we went. Strangely, I can't remember which ballet it was, only that I had enjoyed the evening. During wartime, theatre shows commenced early and ended early too. That enabled the 'close down' to clear the area just in case of enemy action. Later after a meal, we had a lovely time gossiping about the entertainment. We then had a great time examining Sybil's cosmetics and listening to her gramophone but I can't remember what tunes we heard probably Glen Miller which was very popular at that time. I had just begun to be interested in the pleasures of cosmetics etc and it was Sybil who treated me to my first lipstick. Mascara came much later! Her quarters were small but enough room for us to spread out all her make-up on the bed where we spent a little while sorting them out. Some were to be thrown away but most were either replaced in boxes or put in a bag for me to take home. I seem to remember a lot of giggling! I'm almost certain I had a make-up lesson and gales of laughter when having lipstick applied. It was getting late but before we could start to prepare to settle for the night, the sirens bagan to wail. In Torquay where I lived, if you heard the wailing, it meant that the enemy aircraft were overhead! This was different. It was to be a concentrated raid not 'tip and run'. Sybil had to quickly get dressed into her uniform and leave Exeter by car to the outskirts of the city where she would then be in charge of the mobile X Ray unit. This was kept out of the city at night so that if or when a raid occurred, the unit could return and be useful as there would probably be quite a few casualties. I was quickly hustled down to the basement and hastily introduced to the other 'shelterers' and then Sybil disappeared. I can't describe the noise. It was like an enormous non-stop thunderstorm but even more, and the building above us was shaking every few moments, followed by heavy sounding thumps and crumps. While there in the cellar, all the adults were quite shaken and wondering if we would see daylight again. Someone suddenly said ' Is the child old enough to have a cigarette?' They were all lighting up. It was the 'calmer' of those times and I replied 'Yes of course.' That was my first 'fag'. I don't remember if I even liked it but it gave us all a small deflection from the dangers outside. (I must admit here that although I smoked from time to time for several years, I'm so glad I gave it up in 1975 the year my granddaughter was born!) It was a relief to hear the 'All Clear' and gradually we moved back to our original areas wondering what we might see. How long I waited for Sybil to return, I can't remember but I do remember looking at the awful sight of the result of the bombing. Where there had been streets of buildings, now some houses were shells and some were incredibly intact. No sign of any busses let alone any bus stops. I think Sybil must have phoned my parents to confirm that we were both okay because our dear friend at Middlemoor (the Assistant Chief Constable) had obviously been contacted and arranged that I should be returned to Torquay by the police partrol car that was going there as a matter of routine. Sybil continued to administer control of the X Ray unit until the end of the war and I continued to work at school (not achieving my 'School Certificate' but that is another story). Then later helping at St. Luke's canteen where the gorgeous R.A.F. cadets came after their lectures. We had our favourites of course, and it was no accident that they were the ones who got the precious rationed jam in their doughnuts. After I had left school my 'war work' was with the Devon County Council as a school dental nurse. That entire story to come sometime soon! To my fury, I was not allowed to join the W.R.N.S. as I was in a 'reserved occupation!' So I have no medals, no write ups for bravery and no great battle stories!

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.