ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

I was employed in "reserved occupations" as a joiner. At the age of twenty, my wages were about £3.12s.0d. per week. When the war started, I was living in Dundee with my parents and five siblings in a five-roomed house. My father was manager of a large joinery and building contractor employing seventy joiners.

During the war I had to be mobile and could be sent anywhere. To begin with in Dundee, I was working for the builder, Albert Thain. I worked on an air-raid shelter in Baxter Park. Then I was taken away to Glasgow after the Singer's factory was bombed. In Glasgow, I was making housing wind and watertight with clear plastic. Windows were wedged.

I returned to Dundee about a year later to work at Vidor batteries. It was essential work. I needed an inside job on health grounds (Grade IV). When London was hit, I was sent to work with George Wimpy for about three months during the "V" bomb raids.

I never felt nervous during the War. I was just doing my work.

Edward Farningham via Dundee Central Library

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.