大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Chris Comer of Stockport Libraries on behalf of Frances Mills and has been added to the site with her permission. She fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

I was born in Stockport but worked as a predictor for 418 Ack-Ack Battery in London during the war. A predictor gave the battery operators the height, range and bearing to aim at when shooting at incoming bombers etc. I did my initial training in 613 Battery in Scotland but then was assigned to 418 Battery in London. Mary Churchill, the daughter of Sir Winston Churchill, also served in this battery.
I was later sent to the coast to Felixstowe and Hastings intercepting the Doodlebugs as they came in over the coast.

I applied to go abroad towards the end of the war and ended up in Brussels, Belgium where I was in charge of organising supplies and kit.
It was in Brussels that I met my future husband, a Desert Rat, who was now based in Germany but who was on 22 hours leave in Brussels. I thought I recognised a Manchester accent and when I went over to him he did indeed say he was from Manchester although he didn't seem to know much about Stockport.

We didn't have much time together before he had to return to Germany but we continued to exchange letters and see each other whenever we could.
On one occasion we tried to arrange leave together in the UK and after moving heaven and earth I managed to get leave in the UK only to find myself alone over there. My husband to be had had a motor bike accident trying to get over to Brussels to be with me and spent what should have been his leave in hospital in Germany!

We got de-mobbed in March 1946 and married in June. I wore a wedding dress that was part of a collection of wedding dresses that Barbara Cartland had bought from Pinewood Studios for ex service personnel to use! We were married for a very happy 54 years.

I have spotted a story from another girl who served with an Ack Ack battery on this website called "Conscription and Ack-Ack Battery 562" by "Bobbie". She also mentions working with Mary Churchill and I think I do remember working with a "Bobbie" - a tall blond girl - I wonder if it is the same Bobbie who has written her story for this website. If it is I would love to hear from her.

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