大象传媒

Name: Ruby Knight (now Chamber)
ATS W/111373

My sister and I volunteered to join the ATS in December 1941. I had to put my age up to qualify. In January 1942 we were sent to Guildford for 3 weeks basic training, which painfully transformed us from soft civilians to potential soldiers willing and anxious to do anything the army decided was required. I trained as a teleprinter/wireless operator in the Royal Signals and served in various locations eventually becoming a high speed wireless operator at the War Office in Whitehall in the underground offices.

One day I was asked to take a note to another room and I became completely lost in the labyrinth of passages; I could neither find the room or the way back! Eventually I came into daylight, not in the War Office but in the Admiralty and was taken into custody by a handsome young sailor who marched me down Whitehall to the War Office to have my story verified!

Another incident that stays in my mind was on coming off night duty on a bright sunny Sunday morning a 鈥渄oodlebug鈥� fell on Wellington Guards Chapel opposite St. James Park. The chapel was full and many casualties were caused. In the afternoon crowds of people came, probably wanting to help, but of course could not and really only got in the way. But their intention was to help not just gawp.

Finally when the war ended I felt really afraid of the future when I would be in charge of my own life and hadn鈥檛 a clue what to do!

From Ruby Chamber

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