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By Angela Vivian

The decision I made that day opened in my life experiences that the war, and the resultant vexations alone, would not have been there for me.

I had decided, as I travelled to London that morning that working for an oil firm endeavouring to gather their unpaid bills, was not a satisfactory way to help my country at war.

The train stopped at Battersea Station. An air raid warning sounded in the distance. Was Victoria Station the enemy’s target? So we waited. It was very quiet. Nobody talked. Some of us prayed perhaps.

We must have waited twenty minutes or more — it seemed longer — then we slowly continued our journey as the ‘All Clear’ sounded.

Perhaps it was fate that I should meet a friend as I walked to the office. We stopped, enquired how the war was treating each other — a normal enquiry in those days. I told her of my decision taken that morning. I would have to find another reserved occupation of course — obligatory for those of my age. I didn’t want a soft job but I didn’t want to go into the Forces, wear a uniform and not be able to get out until the war ended…

“I have joined the American Army” my friend said “they need secretaries. Why don’t you think about it? You can join as a civilian, the pay is good - £5 a week — and they are a grand lot. I’m with the Engineers at 47 Grosvenor Square. I’ll give you the name of who to contact in Personnel.” She sounded very enthusiastic so I went to next day.

With some trepidation I asked for the Colonel my friend had given me to contact. He was helpful, passed me on to their Personnel Officer. After a short interview I was accepted pending references and a check with Security. At that time, I didn’t realise at all what I had let myself in for. It was the 22nd February 1943.

As my new work began at 8.30 or earlier and sometimes we worked all night, I decided I must live in London. I stayed with a friend near Hyde Park. Noisy at night as the anti-aircraft guns — part handled by women — was stationed very near us. Good to know they were aiming at the bombers as they approached their target — that uneven and menacing throbbing of their engines so easy to recognise.

During the following months leading to the summer of 1944 the Engineers were, of course, involved in the inevitable invasion of France.

With the spring of that year it was obvious we hadn’t to wait long. Then as we know, on 6/7th June the invasion became reality. On 20th June the Americans liberated Paris. The British liberated Brussels. We held our breath. How would it affect those of us working with the American Army?
We would soon to find out……

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