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I first came to London in 1940, when I was 16 years old. I had lost my father when I was 11 years old, so there was just myself and my Mother. I remember she was a warden and when she was able and the sirens went off, she went out to do whatever she had to do. I also remember lying in bed at night with her and the sirens going off, we would just turn over and go back to sleep.

One of the things I remember is being on a bus and noticing a queue outside a sweet shop so I knew a delivery must be in. I got off the bus at the next stop and joined the queue! It might be ages before I would get anymore.

When I was “called up”, I had the choice of either going to Ceylon or the War Office. Although I would have chosen Ceylon, my boyfriend didn’t want that, so the War Office it was in Northumberland Avenue, just near Trafalgar Square. I worked for a Brigadier and whenever he wanted me I had to sign a book with the time on it and sign it again when I arrived back and the time again. Security was very strict and of course I had a Pass to get into the War Office and I also had to sign the Official Secrets Act.

I also remember sitting in a restaurant with my mother in Tottenham Court Road, the top end near Oxford Street and we heard a “doodle — bug” overhead, then silence as it was on it’s way down. The next thing was all the windows caving in and flying glass everywhere, but one just took everything in ones stride and no-one panicked.

When travelling on the tube, the platforms would often be full of people sitting down, so one knew there was an Aid Raid. Another thing that sticks in my mind is having dried egg as one couldn’t get eggs.

Nevertheless, in spite of all this, I had a great social life and met young men, Canadians, Americans, Polish and New Zealanders, amongst others.

‘This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Diane Marsh of the CSV Action Desk on behalf of Gwendoline Florence Duckfield and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.’

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