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This story was submitted to the People’s War website by Maddy Rhodes a volunteer with Radio Suffolk, on behalf of Vera Allen who has given permission for it to be submitted. Vera Allen fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

BLASTED CLAIMS FORMS AT ROMNEY HOUSE

I met my friend Doris during the war when we both worked for the Board of Trade at Romney House by Parliament Square. We dealt with war damage claims. If your goods or chattels were damaged as a consequence of war action, you could claim compensation from the government.

Stafford Cripps was the President of the Board of Trade during the war, and I remember him coming through my office. He was rather an austere looking man, but I expect he was quite nice really. He stood at the end of the office and thanked us all for our efforts.

I remember the date when our office was bombed – May 10th. 1941. Our offices were in a built around a quadrangle, and the bomb went straight down the middle of the quadrangle.

On the morning after the bombing, I remember walking down Whitehall from Trafalgar Square Underground Station, stepping over masonry and exchanging pleasantries with the police and firemen.

When we got to the office, the claim forms were everywhere. We were not allowed to tell anyone we had been bombed – we were afraid people would take advantage of the situation and put in false claims, or claim a second time.

People from all works of life claimed. Lots of the letters and forms that came in were tied up with bits of elastic, or were fastened with safety pins. Many people were so illiterate.

Also lots of people were very poor. Our office cleaners would sell us food and clothing coupons to get a bit of money.

After the bombing the gas pressure was so low that it took all day to make a cup of tea. We kept nipping out to check the kettle but we needn’t have bothered! It was just about time to go home when we eventually got a drink!

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