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My name is Betty Tallack and I was born 4th August, 1918. I went to the University of Hull after winning a scholarship. I took French and Latin and completed the course in 2 years instead of the usual 3. I wanted to be a librarian and there were only three in the whole of the country. I was granted a Bursary and attended the London University, but had to wait a year before I could join a course. I joined a teaching class and during this time, got friendly with a graduate from Manchester with a degree in Science.
After a while, he joined the navy where he became a Naval schoolmaster. He was sent to the Isle of Man to a holiday camp at Cunningham. Trainees were sent there to be out of the range of the bombers. We became engaged and eventually married at Christmas 1939 and I moved to join him in the I O.M., where we stayed until November, 1940. Wherever he was posted, I would follow and get a job. On one occasion, I worked for Balfour Beatty for 18 months in the Orkneys. I returned to Hull, but moved to be with my mother in law in Blackpool as Hull was being blitzed. At this time, I worked for the Civil Service in a Ministry. Blackpool escaped the bombing but I could see the bombings over Manchester from across the bay. I went to Warrington for 2/3 years where my husband worked in a naval school. We went to Malta for 2 years, but unfortunately, we divorced.
My brother joined up and was lost at sea on his first ship in 1942. He was on the "Fire Drake" which was a destroyer. Out of over 200 personnel, there were only 24 survivors.

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