大象传媒

My home was Chatham in Kent. I was 15 when war broke out. We were so excited to see planes coming down. We were just children and didn't realise that our men were dying.

My ambition was to become a nurse. I applied for a job in London, on the Fulham Road. In those days at the young age of 18 you were put on night duty all by yourself. I had been there for six months and everything started to get on top of of me. It was difficult to say why.

After I turned 18 you needed to register. Living in a naval town I was taken into the Wrens. I was made a steward. I enjoyed it and made many friends. We would sleep in Anderson shelters. We would see the planes and the glow in the sky.

Life in the Wrens was not all that exciting as I still lived at home. I became friendly with an airman from Dover who flew Lancaster bombers and we got engaged in December 1943. The following February he was reported missing. He was able to be identified so the Wargraves Commission was able to place him in his own grave. Years later some photographs of his grave were sent to me.

In 1945 I met my future husband. He was in the seamans band. Brought up in an orphanage he had learnt to play an instrument. He was unable to go to sea because he had had TB. I used to march behind the band and dream of the future.

I have always been a Salvationist, as was my first fiancee, and subsequently my husband became one too, joining the Boscombe branch. I had a second chance at nursing, training as a SEN. I finished up as "Nurse of the Year" in 1974.

(PK)

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