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I was 19 when war broke out, I got my call up papers and went along to register, I was down for going in the army but asked if I could join the Navey. Later I was told that I was in a protected job so I didn't go, we made gas valves.

The main thing was being so tired all the time, we worked 12 hour shifts then in the evening we went to the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Guard meetings and then on fire watch. At work one day I actually fell asleep, I had had to kneel down and I dropped off for a couple of seconds.

One weekend a couple of days after the Sheffield Blitz I was walking my dog near the Tapton Golf Course, when I turned round I saw a German plane at only about 50 feet, they had been taking photographs of the destruction caused, the markings were so clear on the side of the aircraft.

When VE day arrived I did not see any celebrations I was so exausted I just slept.

One thing I regret is that we did not have any photographs of being in the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Guard, no one carried a camera - we didn't want to be suspected of spying! But it would have been nice to look back now.

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