- Contributed byÌý
- culture_durham
- People in story:Ìý
- Joan Campbell (nee Walker)
- Location of story:Ìý
- Whitley Bay and Somerset
- Background to story:Ìý
- Royal Air Force
- Article ID:Ìý
- A4281699
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 27 June 2005
I remember joining up. I was 17½ years old and started my training at Somerset RAF, Locking in 1942. My Mother was quids in — she got 7 shillings a week, 35p in today’s money — it was a fortune. I was then sent to Whitely Bay and went home to Leadgate on my day off, running to catch the last bus back to camp. It was at Whitely Bay that I met a smashing lad with an Irish accent called Robert and then married him in 1944, after getting special permission because it was D Day. Robert was then sent to France and then up through Germany. He later went to Israel and saw the bombing of the King David Hotel.
When at Whitely Bay I was in the cook house. Robert and his friends always got extra portions because I was trying to catch his attention, which I did. But I was accused of favouritism by my girlfriends — I think they fancied him as well! We were married for 50 years and had 4 children.
Submitted by daughters Irene and Ann at Consett Library
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