大象传媒

This story has been added to the People鈥檚 War website by Jenny Burnett on behalf of Violet Stack. Violet has given her permission and understands the sites terms and conditions.

My husband was in America during the war and sent good food parcels. Once there was a tin of salmon, so for a Sunday treat we laid the table with a nice white cloth and put out the salmon and some beetroot. Then the air raid sirens went off. We were all ready to go down to the shelter (at the bottom of the garden) but our old neighbour, Ada, wouldn鈥檛 come without her hat! 鈥淲ait a minute, I haven鈥檛 got my hat鈥� 鈥� at last she came out.

The shelter was comfortable 鈥� an Anderson shelter with two bunks, electric light, a radio and a rug on the floor. Finally we heard the 鈥渁ll clear鈥� and trooped out to have our tea. The salmon had gone and there were beetroot paw prints all over the white cloth 鈥� that鈥檚 how I found out that the cat liked beetroot! The best of it was that we鈥檇 laid it out all posh that day with the nice white cloth鈥�..

I went to Bournemouth with my sister to stay at our Aunty Annie鈥檚 and look after her chickens as she was away on holiday. The following morning I was mixing up their food 鈥� potato rinds, bran, any bits of food we could find 鈥� I turned around and saw an American soldier coming up the path. He was black as the ace of spades. 鈥淧lease could you tell me the way to way to Boscomby?鈥� 鈥淵ou mean Boscombe鈥� 鈥� as I turned to show him the way I caught my lisle stockings 鈥� I think I swore as said they were my only pair. He said he鈥檇 get me another pair, and the next day the bell rings, I answer the door and who should be there but the same soldier looking very smart in his uniform. He handed me a little parcel 鈥� they were lovely stockings, a black seam and a little diamond at the bottom. They were so fine and delicate that I only wore them twice. My very first pair of nylon stockings 鈥� I still have them! Still perfect and in their original packaging.

Mother had seven children 鈥� I was number 4. We were very fortunate, we had a really good dining table 鈥� it came from one of the ships. The sirens went off and as our shelter was too small, Mum said, 鈥淕et down under the table鈥� Dad came in and had a laugh 鈥渓ook at you lot with your arses in the air!鈥�

We lived in Stanley Road. This particular night I wasn鈥檛 very well, and my sister came to look after me. Whale Island (an area of Portsmouth) was being evacuated 鈥� it was so dark, about 2 in the morning. It was then the French fleet (some in the harbour) was capitulating.

A neighbour said to me very indignantly 鈥渨hy aren鈥檛 you working?鈥� I didn鈥檛 say anything but I thought 鈥淚鈥檓 doing my bit for the country, you鈥檒l find out as time goes on!鈥� I was expecting my daughter鈥�.

One time a Maori band came down the street 鈥� some in costume, some in sailor鈥檚 uniform. They were bringing a Totem Pole to Whale Island 鈥� I think it鈥檚 still there One went up to me neighbour and put his tongue out 鈥� she was frightened as she was a timid lady But it was just their way of greeting.

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