大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Mairi Campbell of the 大象传媒 on behalf of Annie W Ferguson and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

War or no war life goes on!

I matriculated at Glasgow University and, wearing my identity bracelet and carrying my gas mask in its natty red cover, I travelled daily to attend classes. So disciplined was I that on the morning following the first of the air raids known as the 鈥淐lydebank blitz鈥�, I set off for classes as usual despite the fact that the family and I had spent the night in the garden air raid shelter. The bus from Dumbarton terminated at Dalmuir, I got of but kept walking to the outskirts of devastated Clydebank. The sight was appalling! How stupid of me to proceed.

University life was much curtailed. There were fewer male students which affected the social side somewhat, as did transport arrangements. The last bus to Dumbarton departed at 10.30pm. There were also fire watching duties on a rota system, when one stayed all night in the building, to deal with incendiary bombs. The equipment consisted of a metal pail and a stirrup pump, and many crossed fingers. The university was big and dark and spooky in the blackout.

I graduated in 1942 and became a language teacher in a large, overcrowded city school, life sure was busy! Because of rationing school dinners were a 鈥渕ust鈥� and the menu remained unchanging over years
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 鈥� Soup and Pud
Tuesday, Thursday 鈥� Mince and Pud
NEVER NEVER POTATOES!
The School Secretary was 鈥渨ell-in鈥� with the near by bakers shop. Every Friday and board of sponge cakes was delivered. If one was 鈥渨ell-in鈥� with the secretary one could purchase one of these pink iced delights. There was only one snag, they tasted distinctly of paraffin!

One Wednesday afternoon I received a telephone call to the school; personal calls were much frowned upon usually. My fianc茅 Lt Ronald Ferguson was coming home on embarkation leave, could we get married on Saturday?

There was a mad rush to overcome wartime regulations but unbelievably on Saturday we had a lovely wedding in the University Chapel. My Mother arranged a little reception in a city restaurant and we left on the train showered with torn up loo paper, for our two day honeymoon in Stirling.

On Monday evening we left on the night train to London. The train was cold and dark and cheerless and packed with troops 鈥� many sleeping on the corridor floors. On arrival at the south coast, husband reported for duty to his no 4 Commando, hoping that departure might be delayed, alas no! departure 6.30 am.

I travelled back to London alone and made for the 1pm train out of Euston bound for Scotland. As the train steamed out I could hear the air raid warning wailing.

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