Description
Object description
British volunteer served with Auxiliary Territorial Service in GB, 1940; volunteer and NCO served with 6th Gloucester Clerical Coy Auxiliary Territorial Service in GB, 1940-1942
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Farnham, GB, 1920-1940: family and education; civilian work with Sainsbury's including knowledge of First World War; reasons for wanting to joining Auxiliary Territorial Service and knowledge of approaching war; background to joining services, 1940; changes to work before outbreak of war; details of rationing at home and work; atmosphere during Phoney War; knowledge of war in France; appeals for female recruits and joining of Auxiliary Territorial Service; inoculations; knowledge of Dunkirk evacuation; process of joining Auxiliary Territorial Service.
REEL 2 Continues: wait for call-up; journey to Aldermaston. Aspects of period as volunteer with Auxiliary Territorial Service in GB, 1940: accommodation; latrines and washing facilities; background of recruits; issue of uniform and uniform issued; learning of drill; cookhouse duties; details of sanitary arrangements including collection of towels; discipline and morale; relationship with fellow recruits; question of male officers; talking about men; morning procedures; organisation of day; question of leisure activities; interview and posting to Salisbury; ranks in Auxiliary Territorial Service including ranks held; journey to Salisbury. Aspects of period as volunteer and NCO with 6th Gloucester Clerical Coy Auxiliary Territorial Service in GB, 1940-1942: initial accommodation; attitude to service; opinion of army paperwork; journey to work; duties in processing Southern Command expenses.
REEL 3 Continues: secrecy of work; leave at home; roles of women in services, 1940-1942; details of army expenses processed; issue of inoculations; relationship with civilians including work of future husband; contemporary attitude toward Auxiliary Territorial Service and leisure activities; daily routine; details of pay and pay parades; uses of pay; underwear worn; route marches; deaths of school friends in Battle of Britain; news of war; story of visit from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, 4/1941; rations; secrecy of work; story of talk with cookhouse staff; visits home; news of war; details of promotions gained; story of first time leading march to work; air activity.
REEL 4 Continues: shelter taken from air raids; washing facilities; details of pay; story of marriage and honeymoon, 6/1941; accommodation with husband; background to leaving Auxiliary Territorial Service; later contact with comrades; US troops in Salisbury. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1942: contact with US troops; story of ex-Auxiliary Territorial Service colleague; rationing; morale during 1943; build-up of troops in Salisbury area before D-Day; knowledge of D-Day; news of war; VE Day celebrations; living conditions in late 1940s; reflections of war service; further education in 1960s and 1970s; contraception and sex education during Second World War; fate of pregnant troops; question of abortion; sexual relations of friends; talk about sex.