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Gwedoline Robert
Middlesex / East End London

War came in 1939, before I was 19.
I was expecting my first child. My husband was taken away from Royal Artillery camp.
The camaraderie was marvellous when we moved to London.
The bombing was terrible.
The roof came off our flat twice.
My husband got me into Oxford then Bournmouth and this was more peaceful.
I met a lot of people who had been evacuated.
Life was tough.
My husband went to India (8 months before the end of the war).
There was an attack on the East Coast.
People were much more together — we didn't have much but we helped each other. You forgot about luxuries.
You would queue for oranges and bananas for the children.
We shared everything with people.
Tea was rationed — 4 oz a week, butter 7 oz.
You learnt to make ends meet.
Children grew up — 3 in the war years.
The Christmas Tree was made out of crepe paper — you couldn't actually have one.
My second husband was in Naples and my third was a pilot.

This story was entered on to the People's War Website by Lisa Reeves of CSV Action Desk on behalf of Gwendoline Robert and has been added with her permission. The author fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

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