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In December 1939 RAF command decided that they would need flying training schools abroad. My father was asked to help set them up. In March 1940 the people involved in setting these up were asked to bring their families and we (my mother and I) travelled with him to Salisbury in Rhodesia via Capetown on the Warwick Castle which was sunk two years later. Before we left my mother had to look up on the map to see where Rhodesia was.

I was seven and a half when we left by ship. We were on the ship for two weeks. Then the train journey from Capetown to Salisbury took three days. We travelled with other personnel and their families, some were going to Boloweo and others were going to various places in and around Salisbury.

We lived in Rhodesia for the duration of the war and beyond. I went to school there. The Rhodesian people gave us a tremendous welcome. The governor, Mr Godfrey Huggins, later Lord Malvern, gave a garden party for us. There was no rationing. It was a young country, very influenced by America e.g. we had fridges which no one had back in the UK at the time. The children became Rhodesians and throughout the war there were never any major problems between the RAF and local civilian population.

Aircraft were shipped out in parts and assembled there. Sadly there were many crashes during training and often trainees were killed.

Coming back to the UK in 1946 was a real shock. My parents and I had awful guilt feelings because of not having suffered any of the deprivations of war. All I had experienced was the first air raid on the Forth Bridge but nothing else. I used to curry favour by giving away my sweets coupons.

On arrival in the UK we had been given clothing coupons but we did not need them since we had bought clothes and linen before leaving Rhodesia. So we gave them to friends and family.

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