´óÏó´«Ã½

I was in the ATS - Auxilliary Territorial Service. I joined in 1942, and I was until 1946. I was stationed all over the country, and my husband also joined in ’42.

My friend Phyllis and I joined up the same day. We were children together, we went to primary school together, we went to Grammar school together, we joined up together, we want to our basic training in Wrexham, North Wales together, and at the end of our training we asked to be posted together, but when the postings went up — she was going to Devon and I was going to Cardiff.

We were always in touch, and we eventually ended up in the same camp in North Wales, not far from our home. We were in different regiments — she was with 7th Heavy AKAK regiment, and I was with the 240 regiment.

We got demobbed together at Ashton-under-Lyme in Manchester, and we’re still the best of friends.

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Becky Barugh of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Shropshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of Mary Pritchard and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

See more of Mary’s stories:

• Worse than hell at times
• So many don’t realise
• Spending a well-earned penny
• A real rough diamond
• Labelled
• Love binds forever faithful hearts
• Non-Fraternisation
• Thanksgiving service
• How to use this book
• Clothing books
• Marsh’s Medals
• Joining Up
• One to keep
• Names in a hat
• Too terrible to tell
• Tyne Tees Badge
• Cards to Mother
• 11th Armoured Division Badge
• Flensburg Christmas 1945
• KSLI Badge
• Homeguard Arm Band
• Driving permit
• A very hard worker
• Mary’s Medals
• Marsh’s Evacuees
• Evacuees on the farm
• Milk from cows?
• Marsh’s Parents with the Evacuees
• Me and the girls
• All of us
• ATS Cap Badge
• Mary Pritchard

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