大象传媒

When I was fifteen I used to walk up to six miles to work at the Dunlop factory where we made wellingtons and canvas shoes. We started to make gas masks before the war started but were not allowed to say anything. When the gas masks were issued I returned to my former job. I also worked voluntary at the local hospital after work where people were taken if they were injured after bombing raids.

Later we had a choice to go into munitions work or into the forces. I decided to go into the ATS. I went for a medical and passed it. Those of us who were going into the forces were moved temporarily to the Hartley Jam Works until we were called up.

When the Blitz came over Liverpool I was in the ARP. We would watch the bombers flying over the docks. If any incendiaries were dropped we had to go out with a bucket of sand, a stirrup pump and water. We always had to take our gas masks and tin hats with us wherever we went.

In 1942 I went into the forces for training at Knutsford. After six weeks we were taken in the army lorries - we had no idea where we were going and I ended up in Wolverhampton at Wightwick Hall. I was selected for the officers mess. The men lived in Nissen Huts and the women lived in the hall.

The men were attached to the REME and would take and receive messages on their motorbikes. It was safer and quicker to send messages this way.

I then moved to Dr Allchurch's house on Compton Holloway where we served in the officer's mess. We then moved to Wednesfield known as "The Dump". I was billoted out to Prestwood Road to live with a family. We attended training courses which included learning how to lay a dinner table. Every Sunday we went to Church Parade and we went to the cinema which was known as "The Smack". Every Christmas there was dancing at the Drill Hall and the public were invited in from the streets. At this time we could either take leave at Christmas or New Year - I opted to return home to Liverpool for New Year.

Towards the end of the war I was sent to King Alfred College, Winchester. I was there for three weeks and then returned to Wednesfield where I was demobbed in March 1946. We were allowed to keep our uniforms but had to return our "greatcoats".

I had met Harry when I was in Wolverhampton and we married in Liverpool in June 1946 and we had corned beef for our wedding breakfast.

[This story was submitted to the People's War site by Wolverhampton Libraries & Archives Service on behalf of Rose Preston and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions]

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