大象传媒

This story was submitted to the Peoples War website by gmractiondesk on behalf of Dorothy Allman and has been added to the site with her permission.

After war was declared everybody was frantic to get blackout material , as not a chink of light was to show. We stuck net on the windows to hold shattered glass 鈥� but the air raids did not start straight away.My husband Bill joined the NFS (National Fire Service) and spent his spare time being trained to be a fireman. He was on duty in St Peter Square during the Manchester blitz and was so exhausted 鈥� we could not get his wellies off, his legs and feet were so swollen. I did duty at a local church 鈥� fire watching and being available for minor crises. Bill was called up to the Navy and went to Wales 鈥� then to Gibralter as an electrical artificer. He was in the Malta convoy 鈥� I did not know this until he turned up here 鈥� safe and unhurt.. I had been working as a clerk in the electricity department at the Town Hall. Then in 1942 Rod was born and I left work to become a mother. Meanwhile Bill had been called to London and was selected for radar training and became an officer.He was posted to Glasgow where he served on ships at Ayr, Troon and Ardrossan. Rod and I joined him there, some of the Scottish people were very anti-Sassenach. Bill was then posted to Scapa Flow and then to Trincomalee. We did not see him again for two long years. We could write of course but all letters were censored. Rationing here tested our ingenuity 鈥� not a scrap of food wasted.I bought Jersey milk which had rich cream on top. This I removed and made butter and the butter milk made scones. Meat was difficult 鈥� the ration was 陆 lb a week per person. So we had the cheaper cuts 鈥� longer to cook but just as nutritious. To get a marrow bone from the butcher was a real joy as it produced fat for making pastry and stock for soup etc. Sausages and offal were much prized. Clothes too were rationed. I cannot remember how many coupons we got but I do remember that a coat took 18 鈥� which made a big hole. Make do and mend 鈥� not as today when a small hole or tear means 鈥渇linging鈥� the item. Dresses were short and straight 鈥� not much material , until the 鈥淣ew Look鈥� came about 鈥� near the end, and skirts were longer, fuller and much more flattering. I remember knitting jumpers and when they were worn or shabby unpicking them and knitting them again. Lots of fancy stripes !! Laundry was quite a headache. A boiler for table and bed linen 鈥� a tub and posser and a mangle. Drying was no problem if the weather was fine and one had a garden 鈥� but wet wash days were a nightmare. No disposable nappies or handkerchiefs in those days 鈥� or drying machines. Just lived a different kind of life 鈥� no sacrifices or heroics 鈥� just coped. Perhaps the tough old birds of today are a result of having to buckle to ! Of course if one had plenty of money it was possible to eat out 鈥� but we could not enjoy that luxury very often 鈥� but how we enjoyed it when we did. In those days 拢3 a week was considered to be just a living wage. Coal was about 2/- (10p) a cwt, a large loaf 4 1/2d (2p) and 5lbs of potatoes 6d (2 1/2p) . I was lucky because Bill was able to send tea home 鈥� which we could enjoy and share with friends. Nobody would miss one of Mr Churchill鈥檚 talks 鈥� they were magical 鈥� he was a fantastic leader. I have forgotten to mention dried egg which was very useful !

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