- Contributed byÌý
- vicky_herd
- People in story:Ìý
- Christina Ball
- Background to story:Ìý
- Girls Training Corp.
- Article ID:Ìý
- A2014075
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 10 November 2003
Unfortunately my mother who would be ideal candidate age 77 is unable to use pc so I am doing it for her. She was about 14 when war broke out and on the day was being evacuated to Rye and unusually with her mother as her brother was under 5 and they could go together. They sat for hours on the train suddenly in the open and told war was declared. They were so cross but nothing they could do. They stayed for 6 weeks until her father could no longer pay for them and then back to London and bombed out many times. Her brother Roy must have stories to tell of his younger time and how he was educated. My mum had some either mornings or afternoons but not much was done.
My Mum and Roy have memories about the Bethnal Green tragedy and the sound of strange rockets which they have remembered after all the reports recently. Plus many many more. Also some of the their parents. Her father worked at Savoy Hotel but did fire duty at night.
One night her father dragged Christina to look Surrey Quays burning and after night in shelter when they returned home it was bombed and only glass biscuit tin with bent lid saved.
My mother joined GTC, girls training corp. which I have never heard broadcasted. She has friends from those days who she is in contact with and all have tales to tell.
My father was evacuated to St Leonard's on sea and two years older than my mum and the house still exists today. He was called up to Air Fleet Arm and again not mentioned much. He travelled up to Orkneys to get his ship. Recently my Mum and I went to Kirkwall and found signs of his old place but at the time it was kept very secret even for my Dad. He has stories travelling to Egypt, India etc. Due to his eye sight he was young electrician but a vital role.
My Dads friend as infants, Jack really is still Jack the lad and all he tells us he joined RAF giving parashoots to aircrew. We tried to get some information for joint 75th birthday but hes regiment is still top secret and drew blank. Very annoying. We managed to get info on my dads aircraft carrier though.
Well talking direct to them may be useful.
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