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This story is about civilian and army life.

I was eight years old when the War started and evacuated to Aspatria, Cumberland. I was only there for 8 days when my mam and sister came to collect me and take me home.

I had 1 brother in the Army and once when he was on leave I was playing in the street and there was a plane right above the house and he shouted to take shelter as there had been no siren sounded the plane had managed to dodge the defences.

My two sisters were called up for ammunitions, one to Rugby and one to Coventry. My eldest sister came home after a couple of years as my eldest brother had passed away aged 32 years, so she was allowed home on compassionate grounds.

Once I was travelling on the train to the coast with a group of friends when the Yanks came over, and there was an American with his girlfriend. One of our group started to sing ‘Deep in the Heart of Texas’ so we had our lighter moments too.

My other brother was stationed in Rome and met a nice girl and brought her home after the wedding in Rome. She was a lovely dressmaker and went on to make my sister and my wedding and bridesmaids dresses in the 50s. Also clothing was on ration and my mam took a wool blanket to be dyed russet and my sister-in-law made the most stylish coat for me, fitted in the waist, double-breasted. I even wrote to the ‘People’s Friend’ a few months ago and received a cheque for publication.

When I was about 12 yrs I joined the Girls Training Corps and had a pen friend in New Zealand. When I was given the name and address I thought it was a girl and it turned out to be a male. I was in the Victory Parade through Newcastle at the end of the War and it was very embarrassing to hear my friends shouting when they saw me.

I had a cousin in the Merchant Navy who was torpedoes in the War on the Russian Convoys picked up by the Americans.

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