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It was 1940 and I was in the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Guard , defending a war factory in Purley Way, Croydon. ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Guard was originally called LDV (Local Defence volunteers.) When it was first formed, most of the men in our unit were youngsters. Later, the youngsters were called up and the others left in The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Guard tended to be older. We were known as the A.G.I. (later, when I was called up, I trained to be a radar operator and the very first piece of equipment I used was made by A.G.I!)

We were terribly short, we only had a couple of rifles to go around. The corporal used to have ammunition, but we used to guard with rifles with no ammunition!

We just accepted, we were in a terrible state. We didn't know how we were going to win the war; we thought we would but we couldn't for the life of us see how. (Our God was Mr. Churchill without a doubt.)

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Helena Noifeld of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Kent and has been added to the website on behalf of Roger Aldis with his permission. He fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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