ĂŰŃż´«Ă˝

This story was submitted to the People's War site by volunteer from The Chepstow Society on behalf of Connie Dixon and has been added to the site with her permission.Connie Dixon fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Connie Dixon, nee Jones

Army

Another thing that was at Chepstow, was in Oak Grove, do you know where Oak Grove is? You know you go from here to the Swiss Lodge, well up there is Oak Grove. Well that field in front, there were aeroplanes stored under the trees. Now I couldn’t tell you what they were there for. But a hole was hit in the wall of the Racecourse, and they used to be taken across. Now I don’t know whether it was to repair them or what. When there soldiers there, there was always a guard there as well. Because I remember walking home one night, and a boy I was going with then in Chepstow, who comes to see me again now! Walking home with me late, it was late, I had come home on the train. When we got past the Racecourse, past the sentries and all, I said to him, now you go back, you got to walk, I’ll be OK I didn’t know about this sentry. and it was a black one. No he never said a word to me, but I don’t know whether he was more frightened of me, whether he thought it was an Officer.

ĂŰŃż´«Ă˝ Life
By this time we had got evacuees here. They came from London, the East End. We had a lovely little boy, he was only seven and he never cried the whole time he was here. His name was Bobby Lawrence, his parents had a fish and chip shop in the East End of London. If this siren went off, Mother and I used to get up and bring him downstairs. Mother had er I don’t know whether it was a mattress or a cushion, or what, under the stair. Bobby would be wrapped up asleep. My Father wouldn’t get out of bed, he said “no it wasn’t worth bothering”.

My Mother used to do very well, because she used the Maypole from Newport, used to come around with a van. Very often there was people didn’t want their full lot, and because she used to give them a cup of tea and something, she did all right. We all had our ways! Of course we had our own garden, so we had our own vegetables, there was no worry about.

We had our own chickens, and my Grandfather who lived at The Forge House, his son had a pig. Which was killed, once a year they had a pig killed. Of course in those days there were no freezers. I mean they did the bacon which could be, of course the other bits they had to get rid of because it wouldn’t keep. I used to have the pig’s bladder for a football.

Sometimes we were invited down on a Sunday evening to the NAFFI. We used to have a drink, and dance or something.

6th June I was in the ATS, I was demobbed on the 29th, I was married you see, get out. But VJ day, yes my Husband was on leave, and we woke up in the middle of the night, and there was a noise! It sounded as though saucepans were being banging and shouting. We didn’t know what on earth was on until the next morning, and it was VJ day, and it was the Racecourse, celebrating. We thought what in earth was going on!

Personal Events
I went out with a London Scottie for a long time. Coming, walking home one night, in the dark, the siren went off. I could tell that he was scared stiff. I was too, but I didn’t show it! He was about twenty six or somat like that. Then well a bomb went off. It was the time that one went into the mud by Chepstow Castle, and he threw himself on the ground, he didn’t bother about me, he was down on floor, I thought Oh gosh!

The Town

I could tell you one thing that used to happen when I was in Beards. If there was an air raid siren went off for, or you know. A few of us around there, used to shut shop, and go across to Mr Hall, the Grocer opposite, and go down into his cellar. I Believe it was above Lipton’s, I think Lipton’s was there as well. But the man’s name was Hall, and he had a cellar. We had a cellar at Beards, but it was full, so we couldn’t get there. What used to happen was when the all clear went off we didn’t like it because we had to go back to work!

I went into town everyday when I was working. Yes on a Sunday afternoon, we used to walk in and go down Bridge Street. Because the shop down there was open. This was the first Sunday in the month, with our new ration books, to get sweets.

Travel

When I was in the ATS the last six months, I was transferred to the Pay Corp at Kidderminster because there wasn’t so many air raids, and a lot of the Batteries were closing. Of course then I was able to come home on a Saturday afternoon, and go back on a Sunday. That was when I was a naughty girl! If I came on the train I bought a return ticket to Worcester. Because I knew the Ticket Collectors in Chepstow.

I used to have to walk in on a Sunday, I remember this ever so well. About four o’clock I think to get the train. The Germans would be going out on a march with soldiers and corporals and sergeants. I always used to be escorted by a sergeant past them. I used to be so pleased, I used to think I’m free, and your a prisoner. They were usually singing!

Yes, because I was coming home from Kidderminster, and I was deciding I was going to hitch hike, because I did sometimes. This ambulance stopped, and said they were going to Chepstow. That was really thrilling that was, I was bringing a friend with me, there was two of us. We were allowed to sit in the front because in the back there was Prisoners of War who were being taken to the Plastic Hospital. Germans I think they were. We never saw them, that’s what they told us who was there. They said”would I tell them the way”. But what did I do? I didn’t send them up through Chepstow to the Plastic Hospital. I made them come down to roundabout, so we didn’t have so far to walk!

Work in Wartime

When I was working in Beards, there was a fellow came in the shop. Most peculiar, and he spoke, didn’t speak proper english, and he was asking me all sort of questions. I remember that very well. When he went out, I rang the police, but they got him in, but he wasn’t a spy or anything, I’ve forgotten what he was. And they said I wasn’t the only that had rung in about it.

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