大象传媒

I joined the NAAFI during 1942 as a 'trainer cook,' first billeted at Eastbourne, then Seaford, serving military police who were billeted at Blotchington School, Seaford. I then had my first job as a solo cook at an anti-aircraft site, also Seaford. Then I met up again with the eleven other NAAFI girls I had recently served with at the Denton transit camp near Newhaven, where we cooked a variety of tasty cakes, ie. doughnuts, apple turnovers and puffs, Nelson slices and, of course, the good old rock cakes, which I unfortunately left in the oven and went off duty, only to be met by the manageress with a gray of about 100 black rock cakes. I was then nick-named 'King Alfred.' The troops always appreciated the variety of cakes and savouries. It was their last taste of home-cooking before going overseas.

There were never any sad faces. Everyone was cheerful. Sadly we never knew who returned home safely. I remember the military police preferred sausages etc. and chips. They were always hungry and enjoyed their suppers.

When we first arrived at the transit camp we slept under canvas, but on a very stormy October night the marquee blew away leaving tweleve girls open to the skies. We were then billeted in a row of cottages which were empty, as their owners had been evacuated to the country. We still cooked in Nissen huts and the black coal range. We witnessed the first batch of German prisoners-of-war. They were in an open coumpound for a few days.

My next camp was the brand new military camp at Maresfield, now used by the Sussex Fire Service.

My last posting was in Ashdown forest to serve the Canadians. I celebrated V.E. night at the Chelwood Gate. I returned some weeks after, pleased I had contributed something to the war effort. Although there were sad days, we had some very happy days. There was great comradeship with the girls and the troops. We spent Christmas days with them and the officers were the waiters, doing a grand job.

We enjoyed their dances and concerts. One New Year's Eve we had a fancy dress ball. We tweleve NAAFI girls went as army fatigures, borrowing soldiers battledress. We won first prize and received a large box of cosmetics. I remember I got the lipstick (which, incidentally, I had never used before). We also had to go the Seven Sisters Pub/Hotel at Seaford for my first drink.

I lived at Heathfield and we had a few bombs dropped. Twice we lost all our windows and there was great excitement, especially by the teenagers, when a German plane was shot down. Everyone was collecting souvenirs. The pilot got stuck in a tree in the Park but he survived.

I have visited Denton, the site of the transit camp, but it is now a derelict site. There is a plaque to the Canadians. Many lost their lives at Dieppe. I was engaged to one who went on that fateful journey.

Unfortunately, the NAAFI seemed to have been forgotten. They never get a mention in any war memory celebrations or seemed to be invited to any commemorations, both in England and overseas. I understand some served in Singapore. My dad said I was too young to go overseas, and you obeyed his word. We wore the similar khaki uniforms as the ATS, hats slightly different. I feel we did a valuable job alongside the troops, of which I feel very proud.

My only brother was a Battle of Britain pilot but lost his life in Italy.

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