大象传媒

This contribution is one of a series being collated from the letters of listener's to 大象传媒 Radio Cornwall. The contributor has been briefed on the copyright and other legal obligatiions surrounding the their story.

Helston during the War by Kitty Pascoe

I lived in Helston, west Cornwall, the home of the Flora, or Floral Dance. The town's air raid siren was on the roof of the Guildhall. We could always tell when there were German planes in the area, they made a unique droning noise. I'll never forget the whistle of falling bombs that made two huge craters on the edge of the park, and others behind our house on the moor. Our air raid shelter was a cupboard under the stairs and we always had to carry a gas mask with us.

Wartime slogans were posted everywhere. One I remember was "dig for victory." Allotments were created in parks, gardens and wasteland to increase the number of vegetables grown. Potatoes became especially scarce. Any waste, like peelings or tea leaves, were collected in "swill" bins for the pigs. Food was rationed. As I recall, the weekly allowance for one person was one pound of meat, a quarter of a pound of bacon, two ounces of butter and cheese, four ounces of lard or margarine, some sugar, one egg and two ounces of tea. Those aged over seventy were allowed an extra ounce of tea. Spam and luncheon meat were imported from America and you had to save "points" for these goods. Bricks were used in large fireplaces to radiate heat and save on fuel. Bicycles became more popular as petrol was rationed and expensive.

In 1941 there was a mobilisation order for men and women aged between eighteen and a half and fifty-one. I worked in a grocery store, which was a reserved, or protected occupation. I had three exemptions from service, but was eventually called up for the ATS. (This was the Auxiliary Territorial Service. The women wore khaki uniforms but generally acted as drivers, cleaners or mess hall helpers.)

Everyone was encouraged to collect things for the war effort. It was known as the "save for Britain" campaign. Schools amassed bags and paper, while there were many scrap drives, when items like railings, gates and pots and pans were collected and melted down to make weapons and munitions. Brides were considered more patriotic and fashionable if they wore narrow wedding rings. We used to receive air mail from the troops abroad. Their original letters, written on a special form, were photographed and re-printed on special paper when they arrived in Britain. They were censored and any war sensitive information was literally cut out.

Finally, I remember the arrival of the evacuees from London. They would arrive at Helston station with little bags and a name tag pinned to their jackets. They were assigned to homes in Helston and the surrounding farms. Most did not have electricity and life was harsh.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.