大象传媒

I enlisted at Durham,on 24th January 1942, in deep now, reported for training at Penicuik, Five weeks route marching, drilling F.F. inspections, innoculations, gas drill dental and hair appointments(cut short) church and pay parades(10/- weekly) loosing my case temporarily and toilet bag on my first morning in ablutions. The ablutions were apart from the nissen huts I shared with 29 girls one coke stove, freezing temperatures outside, strict cleaning of the hut. Beds made up daily in an orderly fashion sheets and pillows folded neatly on blanket and placed at headof 'three biscuits' we layed on this practice continued all during my service, together with Kit Inspection of all one's possessions. In February I was posted to Fenham Barracks, home of the Northumberland Fusiliers. Life was luxury after Penicuik, sharing a first floor room with five other girls, dining room, ablutions all in the same building and our clothing store, minutes away, where we kitted out new intakes of girls, - no complaints Ma-am. We did rigorous drilling prior to the Princess Royal inspecting us. We manned fire equipment during air raids. In 1943 I was posted to R.O. Depot at Donnington and was billeted in a 3 bedroom semi, with 11 other girls. By this time I was a Corporal,a room of my own responsible for duty rostas including each girl to have a bath weekly(Mark you 1 only!)which was quite an undertaking, which included washing daily, considering a weekly allowance of 2 buckets of coal. We marched to the depot twice daily sometimes in gas masks and dark days with a lamp at each end of the squad. PE was a daily order and beware 'Skiving' our CSM had a wonderful memory for faces and names. During a severe winter the water in my hot water bottle used to freeze each day. At the depot I worked in the accounting section, at first amending referenc books and stocktaking - could be searching for a tiny screw or a 50 ton gun, 300 personnel Military and Civilian were engaged at Donnington we had a Garrison Theatre, mant venues for dancing - social life was excellent. Cycling and walking in the countryside sometimes not knowing where we were especially during war-time all namesigns were obliterated.. Each Christmas Time we entertained children from the Dr Barnardo's Home. We worked hard, played hard, we endeavoured to look smart, our skirts were pressed overnight by placing them under the 'biscuit' on the bed(one point men soldiers did not have any sheets for their beds). We polished our buttons and badges,'boned' our shoes. Our shirt collars (seperate in those days) we took weekly to a Chinese Laindry. I was discharged on 14th February 1946. We had missed our home comforts but did not suffer the damage and horror of bombing and fighting.

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