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15 October 2014
WW2 - People's War

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Civilian Life Through World War 2

by Longbentonclc

Contributed by听
Longbentonclc
People in story:听
Molly Maughn
Location of story:听
Wallsend and Durham
Background to story:听
Civilian
Article ID:听
A3700397
Contributed on:听
22 February 2005

Molly Maughn was in her early 20's when it all started, World War 2!
She was working in the laundry service in wallsend. She lived in pleasant's point, at the bottom of wallsend. She had to make her way to the top of walllsend by walking. She had to get up at 6 o'clock in the morning and make her way to wallsend end, and work started at 8 o'clock in the morning, 'til 8 o'clock at night. It took her over 1 hour to walk there. But it gets even worse for her, not long after the war had started, her husband had been recruited into the Navy, he was taken into war on the ship, Esprinsbay. She also had another problem, her job had been moved all the way to Durham, but she still lived in Wallsend, looking after her two younger sisters on her own, due to her parents both dying before the war. Her two sisters were both still in school, they were in their teens, approximately between 14 and 17.
Molly admitted it wasn't all bad, she enjoyed the food, she quoted, "it was very pleasant, even thought it was a sad time". They had to ration their food very carefully, Molly told us that she had to explain to the younger people, not to use their ration booklets all at once, it had to last them a month. She also told us that their were different booklets for different age groups, she had a booklet which allowed her to have a bigger amount of food, than her two younger sisters. There was a curfew that everybody had to follow, they all had to be in their homes for 6o'clock in the afternoon. Their only entertainment was singing and playing the piano, Molly said she thoroughly enjoyed it, but soon after came the sirens. She had to make her way to the nearest shelter, which wasn't too far, but it was still a good 10 or 15 minute walk.
Molly also had coupons, for clothes rationing, but she hardly used them, she said there were more important things than clothes.
The war may have ended 60 years ago, but it seemed like yesterday to Molly Maughn, with her husband still in her heart.

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Rationing Category
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