大象传媒

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I was sent to Dagnall near Whipsnade, up on a hill that overlooked the famous zoo with all the animals below.

I remember arriving and hearing that the men had left, taking with them the machine-gun with them, which had to be taken away. The men had been sent to the front line and it was the women who had to take over their roles.

For several months beforehand I had undergone a 20-week searchlight-training course at a place called Kimmel Camp near Rhyl in North Wales.

One night we received a call on the RT to get out of bed and make our way to the searchlight station.

The first person out was responsible for getting the generator going. I can remember having to rush like mad to get to the searchlight. It was my job to press a great lever, which operated the lamp. There were about eight people operating each light and part of my duty was also to clean the searchlight lens and its reflective mirror.

I can remember having to get inside to clean it!

Our job was to look out for enemy aircraft and help our fighters rather than just the guns on the ground.

Operating the searchlights could be very frightening but once the all-clear sounded we went back to bed.

I operated the searchlights between 1942 and 43, and then again in 1945.

I was trained to serve with the Royal Ordnance Corps and ended up on all kinds of vehicles although those over 3 tonnes were driven by the men.

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