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This story was submitted to the people war Website by a volunteer from Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life on behalf of Sidney Preece.

SIDNEY PREECE

In 1939 I was working at DBC Motors in Walton-on-Thames. It was taken over by Vickers after war started and we produced ammunition and airplanes such as the Lancaster. Lots of the skilled men went to their main factory. I stayed and was in charge of 60 people, choosing the best person for a specific job. Lots of women came to work at the factory where there had been none before to replace the men. They worked mainly on days. It was hard work. We worked long hours and were very busy. At one point to help the war effort, we worked 7 nights a week but this was cut down to 6 nights as the workers grew too tired to work effectively. Different categories made different parts so if one was bombed it had less effect on production.

Everyone helped each other in the factory. There was a good atmosphere. If there were workers from other parts of Britain, we looked after them so they felt at home. I can remember ‘fostering’ a Scotsman. There was a lot of bombing around the area especially buzz bombs.

The factory is now a museum displaying the planes we made there during the war.

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