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I was 22 when war broke out and already working in an engineering company. It seems now we swiftly turned around to keep the war effort. We produced aircraft engines for trainer planes and it seemed a phoney war to start with but we soon had the first air raids which changed our minds.

The hours were long and the pay didn’t seem to matter as everything was in short supply. I cannot remember anyone who didn’t work non-stop. Sirens in the daytime meant we would be looking out for incendiary bombs and even did fire watching on the roof of the factory during the hours of darkness.

Men not called up joined the fire brigade or ARP, all on duty after working hours. It was non-stop. Dark, dark days and we went on with the hope peace would come.

We lived in a highly industrialised area so we were bombed relentlessly.

I was married in 1942 and my husband was in the RAF. When I think of the dark nights without lights in the streets — the destroyed water and power supplies, I shudder. Losing close friends and neighbours in the fight for freedom, I wonder where we went wrong.

I went into Coventry the morning after the destruction with bread and water supplies.

These are my memories of the war but at least we knew what we were fighting for.

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This story was contributed by Solihull Heritage & Local Studies Service, Solihull Libraries. It was originally contributed to Solihull Heritage & Local Studies Service's collection in 2005 (Ref: NC Solihull Historical: Reminiscences 2005/2).

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