91�ȱ�

This story has been written onto the 91�ȱ� People's War site by CSV Storygatherer, Jenni Randall, on behalf of Olive Huff. The author fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.

How different our young years were from ‘39 - ‘45. Teenagers had not yet been invented. One day you were a schoolchild complete with uniform and the next an adult with a complete change of clothing. Gone were the thick woollen stockings, usually black, now we wore beige lisle. 1 coupon for non fashioned and 3 coupons for fully fashioned. Hats were a must for any interview and at 16 you were required to register to find the best way of fitting yourself to be a useful citizen. Oh how I envied an old school pal her motorbike as a messenger! For me it was evening duties with the Red Cross after my normal day job.

In July 1944 I was on a break from my “essential employment” and there was a shortage of adults to accompany London children to a place of safety away from the V1’s and V2’s. My Aunt volunteered my services and I found myself on Kings Cross station with the formidable task of keeping many small children occupied and happy on the long journey north. Destination unknown and all station names blacked out. Eventually after a long tiring journey we arrived at Bradford. The first night was spent on the floor of the Agricultural Hall with the children as many were upset by this time.

The second day a wonderful couple swept up we two adults and took us to a place called “Dudley Hill”. Heavenly! A good meal, a hot bath and a night of peace away from the fear of air raids.

The second journey took us to Heysham near Morecombe. Here the town band met us and the children were taken off by kind hostesses. We were rescued by a young reporter whose mother welcomed us into her home for another peaceful night.

So much for my one week’s holiday!

I was just seventeen years old.

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