大象传媒

This contribution to People鈥檚 War was received by the Action Desk at 大象传媒 Radio Norfolk and submitted to the website with the permission and on behalf Maureen Strong

On a dark chilly evening in February 1943 I first became acquainted with Balcombe Place, a large country mansion near Haywards Heath, West Sussex the home of Lady Denman, founder of the Women鈥檚 Land Army.
I was accompanied by my Mother and we were met at Balcombe Station having travelled from Burgess Hill by train where we were living. The small van duly arrived at Balcombe Place where we were ushered in by Lady Denman鈥檚 butler. My Mother remained in the large hall while I was interviewed before being offered the job of shorthand typist in the hostels department of the W.L.A. Headquarters. I received a letter from the Ministry of Agriculture offering employment and setting out the following Terms and Conditions.
My starting salary would be 拢2.10.0 per week and the hours were 9.30 to 6pm on week days and from 9.30 to 12.30 or 9 to 12 on Saturdays. One and a quarter hours for lunch to be brought with one, soup provided on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 2d a cup with a cup of tea and cake provided at 11am and 4pm. A van from Balcombe Place to meet the train arriving at Balcombe at 9.25 and return transport to the Station at night. Appointments are temporary, made upon a weekly basis and may be terminated by a week鈥檚 notice on either side.

I was required to telephone immediately, it stated in the letter, to inform my would be employer that I had obtained the permission of the Employment Exchange to take up this Post. So it was that I commenced duties working for Mrs. Grace, Head of the Hostels department (she managed to keep 3 other shorthand typists fully employed also!). The typist鈥檚 pool was situated in what had been the large drawing room and overlooked a swimming pool
Around May 1944 it was decided to move the Headquarters to Chesham Street. S.W.1. and hardly had we settled in than the 鈥淒 Day landings鈥� started and Doodle Bugs started arriving! We became rather anxious at this point and even wrote to Mr. Churchill confirming our fears. Quite probably completely coincidentally, but within a few weeks we were transferred back to Balcombe Place, but this time our offices were situated in the servant鈥檚 quarters!
In those days we used manual Imperial typewriters and these could be taken apart for cleaning and repairing purposes. There was an empty fireplace in our office and so we took Lilly鈥檚 typewriter apart and hid the carriage up the chimney 鈥� as a group of quite young girls we thought this quite hilarious! I cannot recall any dire consequences, Lilly being on the whole as I recall quite an amicable soul! Not too long afterwards Peggy one of the typists decided to join ENSA as a singer and Lilly left to become her piano accompanist.
Just under a year later back we went to Chesham Street, London. I have vague recollections during that period of occasionally patronising the odd restaurant in Victoria and participating of their basic, but 鈥渘ourishing鈥� menus. Crowded commuter trains are nothing new 鈥� I can recall all too frequently standing in overcrowded train corridors between Victoria Station and Haywards Heath. I considered my season ticket costing 15/- to be quite expensive!
In December 1945 I left W.L.A. employment so that I could work locally in Haywards Heath not far from Burgess Hill where I lived.
On the whole I think I have quite pleasant memories of my time at W.L.A. Headquarters, it was very much an 鈥渁ll female鈥� environment, the senior officers I felt were rather 鈥淐ounty types鈥�, doing their bit towards the War effort!

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