大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site at Surrey History Centre on behalf of Mrs V Garner. It has been added to the site with the author鈥檚 permission, and she fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

1939:
I was living with my parents in Ivydale Road, Peckham Rye, SE15. They stayed there for the duration. They had an Anderson shelter in the garden, fitted with forms for sitting and sleeping, taking food etc with them when sirens sounded at night.

I travelled to the Old Kent Road to work in the office of a factory making birdcages etc.

1940:
The factory was hit and moved to Mitcham. By this time they were on war work, making handles, hinges and clips for ammunition boxes. The handles were made from 3/8鈥� rod by hand on jigs!

I went with them, staying at first with friends in Worcester Park in Surrey, who were using their shelter nightly. I refused their offer, but was made to sleep in the downstairs bath!

I travelled by bus and underground train, with little difficulty and returned to Peckham each weekend. I also stayed in Raynes Park, and there was no shelter, but here my friend and I took turns firewatching at night. Luckily there were no incidents!

By this time my firm had started making splints with wire, which could be bent or cut to length.

I didn鈥檛 encounter any bombing during my travels.

1941:
There were a few direct hits around Ivydale Road.
1. Direct hit on a house up a side turning, which blew many windows out.
2. Direct hit on local air raid warden鈥檚 hut, by a railway bridge. Another warden鈥檚 hut nearby was alerted when a helmet was washed down by water from a burst water main!
3. Another direct hit nearby caused damage inside my parent鈥檚 house. The folding doors between two rooms were 鈥榖lown鈥� down and the wire curtain rails were stretched out, taking the net curtains in with them! My mother was pleased to find all the drawers had remained closed, until she opened them!!!

1942:
My fianc茅 was in the army. We married, and had a white wedding. I had saved some clothing coupons for a dress and used some lace, which was not rationed! We had a reception in my parents home, with many relatives and guests. The windows had been replaced for the occasion.

1943:
Our daughter was born and all went well in a small local nursing home.
1944:
I travelled to Berkhampstead and Leeds by train with her and had no troubles.

I rented a maisonette in Aboyne Drive, Raynes Park and took our wedding presents and furniture from my parents鈥� home, which of course I wasn鈥檛 using there! I purchased linoleum for two rooms. This allowance was not rationed, but we would only have been allowed carpet for one room.

1940:
My mother joined the WVS (now WRVS) re-housing people, sorting donations of clothes and household goods.

She was allocated rations of cocoa, powdered milk and some tinned food, for those cases of need who had suffered bomb damage.

She was also asked to 鈥榗onscript鈥� a few neighbours who would be ready to pick up their brooms and buckets to go to the aid of local shops etc. who had suffered bomb damage.

The WVS also made camouflaged netting, and they supplied Norwegian escapees with their sundry requests as they were housed locally while awaiting interrogation.

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