大象传媒

Betty's days as an army cook

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Shelagh on behalf of Betty and has been added to the site with her permission. Betty fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

I went into the army in Cambridge when I was eighteen. I came from nearby St Ives in Huntingdon. I trained at Talevera Barracks and took a cook's course. When I finished my training I was sent to Brentwood in Essex.

We were up at six o'clock every morning as we had to prepare breakfast. We made porridge, sausages, bacon and bread. We knew exactly how much was to be put in each portion and what we had to serve each person. Sometimes people thought they hadn't been given enough to eat but we could only serve what we were allowed to.

We then prepared the mid-day meal. We had large steam ovens and we cooked vegetables and made stews. Tea was a light meal of bread and jam and cups of tea. After dinner we rested and then went back on duty at six o'clock in the evening to prepare for the meals for the next day.

When we were of duty we went to the pictures. I went to Church on Sundays as I always had. There were dances too that we enjoyed.

I was stationed at St Annes on Sea where I met and feel in love with my husband who was also an army cook. We were married at St Thomas's Church by the Army Padre in 1945. I wore a wedding dress made out of parachite silk which was very see through!

After we were married we were posted. I went to Chester and my husband to Inverness, that way we would not be in the same place having leave at the same time. I was due to be posted abroad which my husband didn't want. I became pregnant on my honeymoon - my husband didn't want me to stay in the army!

As I was small the army didn't think I was pregnant and sent me for a further examination. In the morning I went by train to see the doctor and in the afternoon was being sent home by train from the army as my pregnancy was confirmed. My daughter was born later that year.

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