大象传媒

Helping to feed the Soldiers.

As a child during the war, we coped with the blackout and all the restrictions imposed on us, including rationing. We would save our sweet coupons and think nothing of walking a mile to buy a quarter of sweets. When there was a wedding in the village we would all help by pooling our clothes coupons, and help with the wedding cake ingredients. Sometimes there would be a three-tier wedding cake, but on closer inspection only the third tier was a real cake, the other two tiers being made of cardboard.

One evening there was a knock at our back door, and much to our surprise there was a soldier, asking if there was a cafe in the village, as they had been on manoeuvres and had not eaten all day. There was no cafe in our village, but Mother said 鈥� we will have to do something for those poor lads鈥� so we set about trying to organise a meal.

I was sent up the lane to knock on doors, to see if they could spare some margarine, potatoes, tea or bread. At the end of the lane was a grocers shop and he also made a contribution. Next we had to peel the potatoes, because we had decided that the meal would consist of a plate of chips, a slice of bread, and a mug of tea. Mother had no cooker, the chips were cooked over the fire of a Yorkshire Range.

In the living room we had put up a long table. with four chairs each side. Two sisters lived next door and they came round to help.

I went across the road and told the soldiers to come over eight at a time. They duly arrived leaving their backpacks in the yard. They sat down for their meal, which they duly appreciated; saying it was the best meal they had eaten for days.

We were still peeling potatoes at midnight, but we could always boast that we fed the British Army.

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