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Joyce Reeves,
Story from World War 2

When the war broke out in September 1939, my sister and I were on holiday with our parents in Compton Dundon, Somerset. I was just 14 and my sister was 4 years old……we had just returned from a walk, and it was a lovely Sunday morning.
As we went into our Aunt’s cottage, we were greeted by the wireless (radio) — broadcasting news that we were now at war with Germany.
I can vividly remember how shocked I was on hearing this….as were the rest of our family…just how would we all be affected?
The first thing my parents decided was that my Dad had to go home straight away, to get back to work in London the next day.
Our hosts, Uncle John and Aunt Sarah, said mother could stay with us here until we were sure it would be safe to return home to Twickenham.
Later that week, we heard from dad that — apart from a few false alarms — there had been no bombing……so we decided it would be best to return home, and see what happened. Of course, I was due to return to school later that month to begin the autumn term.
All was peaceful when we returned home, but there was a request from the headmaster for help from our parents for the preparation of air raid shelters, which had to be dug out before we returned to school. All the fathers were able to help with this during evenings and weekends. Meanwhile we were told of arrangements of classes to be held in various church halls, until the shelters were completed. By now there was a strange feeling of excitement among the students, faced with studying in strange venues around the area. Most of us were able to use cycles to get around and in due course we were back in school-and joining our classmates in air raid drill, now that the shelters were ready. Our school tennis courts had been dug up for shelters. It was good to be back to familiar surrounding and life seemed much as it had been before.
Families with enough space in their garden were issued with Anderson air raid shelters. A large hole had to be dug to certain depth, before the corrugated iron shelter could be erected. Luckily, a cousin of ours who had just joined the army came over on a weekend leave, and helped dad dig the hole! Workmen arrived later to concrete the sides of the hole, and complete the job. We were anxious to try it out!!! There was a small bunk across the far end with two more on either side. We all had blankets and suitable bedding, and able to sleep quite comfortably. Soon afterwards, we were to spend many nights in the shelter, and sometimes unable to sleep for the noise of planes overhead and bombs exploding some distance away.

Now we had a new routine:
Home from school, have our tea, start our homework… and if the warning sounded — quickly down into the shelter where we carried on and finished our homework.
Sometimes we didn’t sleep upstairs in bed for weeks on end….at school the next morning we were all yawning after a bad night, but soon recovered as the day wore on. In spite of all the disruption, work and tests continued as usual — and when it was time for exams these went ahead without interruptions.
I suppose our lives were very much disciplined because of the war. If we went out to see friends after tea, we had to be back early incase the warning sounded.

Food during the war
Rabbits 2/6d a pound
Swedes 4 for 6d
Eggs 2/9 a dozen
Meat ration 1 per adult
Coal 3/4d per cwt.
Milk ration ½ pint a day

If you took in evacuated children you were paid 9/6d for each child.
An army private’s pay was 17/6d a week.

The Blackout
Right from the time war started, no lights were to be shown — neither street lights nor lighted windows. Thick curtains hung from every window, called ‘blackouts’. We had to close these before putting on a light. Cars had to be laid up, as petrol was only for essential vehicles… ambulances, fire engines etc.
Wardens were on patrol in the streets to make sure no-one was showing a light, which could have attracted the attention of enemy aircraft. Most of us had bikes, and the lights on these were adjusted to show only a small beam of light. Cycling around to visit friends, especially on a foggy night with no lights… you had to know where to turn off, or you would get hopelessly lost!!!
When possible, dances were held in village halls, and cinemas were great places to go to escape from reality. A great source of escapism and some of the films we enjoyed can still be seen today.
Newsreels were shown at every performance, so we could keep up to date with the progress of the war.
London, in spite of the war, was very busy, with entertainments and shows still running — so people on leave from the forces and their families could still enjoy themselves. Everywhere there were people in various uniforms, each from other parts of the world, all fighting alongside our military personnel, and some made lifelong friendships.

When I finished school
In 1941, after having successfully achieved my school Certificate, aged 16.5, I left grammar school and went to a local bank for a job interview.
Their training school was in Googe Street, in the middle of London — where I studied banking for three weeks.
Then I started work in the Strand branch of Barclays Bank. The hours were long and books had to balance to the last penny every night in those days.
I had to catch a train home, sometimes late at night, and as my parents had no phone they never knew what time to expect me home.
After about two years of this, I was suddenly given a transfer to our local branch in Twickenham. Though they never admitted it, I’m sure this had something to do with my parents!
But I settled down, made new friends, and could cycle to work each day — giving me more time to spend with the family.

Once the war finished, I eventually married and settled down in Twickenham, where our son was born.
Some twenty years ago my husband and I retired, and decided to move to Gillingham, here in Dorset.

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