Description
Object description
British civilian with NAAFI in GB, 1940-1941. NCO with Auxiliary Territorial Service attached to 145 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Bty, Royal Artillery in GB, 1941-1945 [Poor audibility reel 1]
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of childhood, Bermondsey, London: medical problems, rickets; activity of Mosley's blackshirts in area; treatment for rickets. Recollections of life in Essex, pre-1939: employment in shirt factory; employment in shoe factory. Recollections of life and work in Essex, 1939-1940: employment as usherette in cinema; experience first air raid; air raid precautions in cinema; arrival of army in area. Account of daylight raid whilst visiting London: decision to visit grandparents in London; attempts to persuade grandparents to move to Essex; reaction to air raid.
REEL 2 Continues: attempting to travel home on train during raid; witnessing destruction of London; bombing of railway and attempting to travel home via Liverpool street; disrupted train journey to Manor Park; attempting to find shelter during raid; distress at being stranded in Manor Park; being cared for by Manor Park family; continuation of raid; devastation of Manor Park after raid; returning home to parents.
REEL 3 Recollections of life and work in Essex, 1939-1940: desire to join NAAFI; work making parts for minesweepers, Rettingdon Farm. Recollections of period with NAAFI at Hornchurch aerodrome, 1940-1941: joining NAAFI; duties; daily routine; food rations for service personnel; condition of Battle of Britain pilots; social life; rules regarding relations with service men; medical problems and discharge from NAAFI; attitude towards NAAFI cook. Recollections of joining ATS: recruitment; medical; assignment to Royal Artillery mixed sex Regt 145; reaction of parents to her joining ATS.
REEL 4 Continues: advice from mother on leaving home; attitude of father towards her joining ATS; reaction to leaving home. Recollections of training, South Wigston, Leicester and Aldershot: uniform; procedure on arrival at Wigston; regulation hair style; training as AA spotter at Aldershot; aircraft recognition; range finding training; firing practice at Anglesey, Wales. Recollections of posting to Birmingham: first 'hit'.
REEL 5 Continues: story of being put on charge for lighting cigarette to warm hands at command post, Erdington, Birmingham; discipline; air raids, Birmingham, 1941-1942; being placed on open arrest for insolence towards officer. Recollections of posting to Southease: range finding German planes; attempting to keep piglet as pet; living conditions at.
REEL 6 Continues: personnel in Heavy AA Unit; description of command post; duties; relations with officers; relations between men and women; spotting troops training for D-Day,; increase of work around D-Day; social life. Further recollections of life in ATS: speculation of whether German spies had infiltrated Wales.
REEL 7 Continues: attitude of Welsh people towards ATS personnel; social life in Birmingham; question of sexual relations and pregnancies; relations with US servicemen; witnessing aircraft and gliders heading for France, D-Day; marriage, 1945; attitude towards service with ATS; VE Day celebrations, Thundersley, Essex; role as standard bearer for British Legion, post-war.