- Contributed byÌý
- bestruralbus(iw)
- People in story:Ìý
- Eileen Clark
- Location of story:Ìý
- Newport Isle of Wight
- Background to story:Ìý
- Civilian
- Article ID:Ìý
- A2885196
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 02 August 2004
Eileen Clark, 3rd April 2004
I was born in Newport I.W. 1931. I was 8yrs when the war started and 14yrs when it finished.
My father was in the T.A. so when war was declared he had to stay in. He went to France and finished up in Belgium driving a lorry (RASC)
We were in the air raid shelter nearly every night. I had three brothers so helped mum with the youngest. He was a year old when the war started. We carried a gas mask everywhere and ran in different shelters if the siren went. Newport had quite a few bombs dropped on it.. I went to Nodehill Girls School and saw the ruins of Dr. Stratton’s home — all books and things in the playground. We were sent home that day. Mum did part-time work. Neighbours looked after one anothers’ children. We spent a lot of time up over the Downs, always in groups. There was a big gun on Pan Hill. My friend and I used to darn socks for the soldiers down by the stream on Pan Hill. I can remember the small boats going out down the River to Dunkirk. Our neighbour was on one and his wife was upset. We didn’t know why..
It wasn’t very nice when they bombed Cowes. The whole Island was lit up. My Nan had a fire bomb through her ceiling in Arctic Road.
Towards the end of the war we worked on the land at Chale Green. Mum took us all out. We had Italian Prisoners working and I helped the Land Girls.
My Dad got de-mobbed. There was not much work about. I left school at 14yrs and went to work straight away. One job I had was at the Grand cinema in Newport and saw lots of good films. I met Steven Murray and his wife, and Derek Farr at a film ball in Southsea. That was good !
I met my husband in 1948, married in 1950. I had 4 daughters and 1 son. My husband died in 1998, so we had 50 years together; 11 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.. I am still living in the same house since 1953 and don’t want to move. I have had an eventful life and would not change it.
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