Walden, Doreen (Oral history)

British private served with Army Territorial Service in GB, Egypt and Palestine, 1945-1948

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Sandyford, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1927-1939: family background and social circumstances; education; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; privately organised temporary evacuation to family farm at Chollerford. Recollections of evacuation with school to Windermere and Bowness, 10/1939-6/1941; relationship with families at various billets; relationship with local children; initial school arrangements prior to accommodation in social club building; attack of scabies and treatment at evacuees medical centre; exploring Lake District; contacts with family; impact of evacuation on education; story of sister's examination interrupted by German air raid; leaving school and return to Newcastle; Recollections of period in Sandyford, Newcastle, 6/1941-5/1945: cycling and Youth Hostel activities; work as shop assistant; hockey activities. REEL 2 Continues: family use of River Ouseburn culvert air raid shelter until case of panic during German air raid; use of Morrison air raid shelter; street air raid shelters; blackout; effects of German air raids state of civilian morale; clothes rationing; recreations including dance halls, cinemas, theatres, village dances and cycling club; father's role in ARP; background to volunteering to join Army Territorial Service, 2/1945. REEL 3 Continues: background to volunteering to join Army Territorial Service, 2/1945; medical. Recollections of basic training at Northern Region, ATS, Pontefract Barracks, 5/1945-6/1945: reception; barrack room and showers; kitting out; morning routine; food rations; lectures; aptitude tests; PT; drill; vaccinations; relationship with recruits and instructors; current affairs sessions; room and kit inspections; canteen; passing out parade. Period on driving course with Motor Transport Training Coy, ATS, Camberley, 7/1945-8/1945: learning to drive; presentation ceremony for Princess Elizabeth. REEL 4 Continues: VJ day celebration in London, 15/8/1945; billets. Period attached to Royal Army Ordnance Corps at Ordnance Depot, Donnington, 9/1945-3/1946: initial council house billets; hut accommodation; dispute with officer over Indian independence and question of family political views; duties; dislike of posting; question of pregnancy rate in ATS; attending PT instructors course; volunteering for overseas postings; preparations for overseas posting and issue of khaki drill uniform. Voyage aboard Orantes to Port Said, Egypt, ca 6/1946: conditions; question of underage status; relationship with troops aboard ship; first impressions of Egypt. Period in Transit Camp, Ismailia, 6/1946. REEL 5 Attending telephone switchboard operators' course at Maadi, Cairo, 6/1946. Recollections of period as switchboard operator with General Headquarters, Cairo, ca 7/1946-8/1946: shift system; method of connecting telephone calls; billets; food rations; recreations; acclimatisation to climate; relationship with Egyptian civilians; drill parades; visits to Pyramids; bartering in market; saluting officers; background to volunteering for Palestine service. Recollections of period at Headquarters, King David Hotel, Jerusalem, Palestine, ca 8/1946-2/1948: train journey; accommodation in former married quarters and layout of Allenby Barracks. REEL 6 Continues: nature of HQ at King David Hotel; recreational visits and enjoyment of posting; increasing restrictions on movement and ban on wearing civilian clothes; relationship with Jewish and Arab civilians and camp workers; activities of Jewish insurgent groups including attack on Jerusalem railway station and attacks on army personnel; restricted movements and necessity for guards following threat of attacks on British women service personnel; local leaves skiing and walking in Trudos Mountains, Cyprus; attending United Nations meeting on partition of Palestine; typhoid cases, 10/1947; relationship with NCOs and officers; sporting activities and question of P; story of swimming party to Dead Sea; visits to Allenby Bridge, River Jordan. REEL 7 Continues: relationship with Palestine Police; demobilisations and reactions to male switchboard operators; ceremonial parades; demobilisations and disbandment of unit, 2/1948. Period at Transit Camp, Ismailia, 2/1948. Voyage aboard Sumaria to GB, 2/1948. Demobilisation and final party, 3/1948. Post-service career: clerical duties with Mobile Blood Transfusion Team; rejection as to young for service with Red Cross in Middle East; emigration to work in Blood Transfusion Service in Canada, 1952-1954; enjoyment of ATS service in Palestine; membership of Palestine Police Old Comrades and Palestine Veterans Assocs.