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RECOLLECTIONS OF STORIES MY PARENTS TOLD ME

My Father was Gunner Richard Smith, and served in the Royal Artillery from 29th July 1940 until 14th February 1946. He served in Egypt, Italy, the Anzio line and Monte Casino.

My Parents were married in 1935 and lived at Clerkenleap just outside Worcester, near Kempsey. Norton Barracks was situated about 2 /12 miles from us.

Mum worked at the Cadena Café in the centre of Worcester on the Cross. Dad used to do fire watching on top of Kempsey Church.

When Mum was working at the Cadena Café, the Manageress became very unreasonable and unhelpful when my Father came home on leave, and she wouldn’t even allow Mum to have the day off when Dad was on embarkation leave. My Mother became so fed up with this that she left and went to the Porcelain to work. The Manageress had problems at the Cadena Café keeping staff. Mum had to work as she had no children. She also had empty rooms at home, so A.T.S girls were billeted in the house.

Mum was able to make friends — Vi Cole from the Porcelain works and Doris Cole who was one of the A.T.S. girls. Doris was one of the cooks at Norton Barracks. I believe the locals used to go to the dances at Norton Barracks. Mum and Dad attended. Walking through the lanes or cycling.

I was born 25th April 1944, at the Tything Nursing Home in Worcester. My Father was in either Italy or Egypt when I was born. Mum always wanted a ‘nice pram’, but had to make do with a utility model.

When Coventry was bombed Mum told me the whole sky was lit up and brilliant red.

The day the European War finished — the American tanks were parked on the A38. One of the ‘Yanks’ came up to the front door whilst I was being bathed, and they asked if they could come in and listen to the wireless.

My Dad did not see me until I was nearly 18 months old.

Our home was very self sufficient — we grew potatoes and other vegetables in the garden and we had many fruit trees and fruit bushes. We kept chickens for the eggs and later on we kept a pig.

This story was submitted to the People's War site by June Woodhouse (volunteer) of the CSV Action Desk at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Hereford and Worcester on behalf of Judith Smith and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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