Description
Object description
British civilian served with Women's Timber Corps in GB, 1943-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1922-1943: family home; problems within family; home in Lambeth; education including work of father; civilian work; memories of poverty during childhood; further details of civilian work including move to Walcot Trust home; story of bomb damage on Kennington Road; interest in art and artwork by husband; further details of education; awareness of events in Europe during 1930s; story of German penpal; memories of mother including evacuation of brother; father's digging of air raid shelter; war service of father; knowledge of First World War; opinion of Neville Chamberlain; further details of education.
REEL 2 Continues: attitude of mother; changes to life and work caused by war; gaining news of war; civilian morale including details of civilian work and problems with skin after joining up; father's service with Home Guard; scenes on English Channel shortly before D-Day; rationing; rations during service; details of Voluntary Aid Detachment training; reasons for not continuing after training; interview and posting to Women's Timber Corps. Aspects of period as civilian with Women's Timber Corps in GB, 4/1943-11/1945: pattern of training in Culford; role as measurer; journey to and details of Timber Corps operation on Bodmin; reaction of parents to posting; rations at home before and during war; posting to Cornwall; reception on arrival in Bodmin and memories of foreman, Mavis Williams; make-up of workforce; details of operations.
REEL 3 Continues: accommodation and rations; baths at Bodmin Asylum; details of pay and leave; work uniform provided; washing facilities; learning about local plants and wildlife; burning of leaves; state of hands; story of Timber Corps dance; contact with American troops; relationship with civilians; leisure activities; conditions during winter; memories of colleagues; contact with and opinion of American troops; train journeys between Bodmin and London; leisure activities; reason for visits to cinema; background of colleagues; rationing; production of pit props; visits from seniors; later secretarial work with area supervisor in Taunton; reactions to news of D- Day and North West Europe campaign.
REEL 4 Continues: problems with health and hospitalisation; reactions to end of blackout and VE Day; details of husband's work. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1945: atmosphere in Britain following war including civilian work; opinions of modern Britain; discussion of education in Britain since war; details of first job after war; work done by women in Timber Corps; details of trees in Bodmin area; discussion of education in Britain since war; visit of German penpal to Britain in late 1940s; financial situation since Second World War.
REEL 5 Continues: financial situation since Second World War.