I was working at Redwings Munition Factory at Purley Way, Croydon. Because we had been working long hours (with very little pay)the foreman said we could go home at 5.30 on the Friday, which was the day before my 18th birthday. It was a beautiful August evening. I was looking out of the window waiting for my mother to come home from shopping, when I saw lots of aircraft bobbing and whizzing about. I thought they were Canadians or Americans fooling about.
At about 6.50 there were almighty bangs which shot me right across the room into the garden.They were German planes bombing Croydon Airport which I lived near (and still do) My mother came in all flustered and pushed me into the shelter, but all I could think about was my father who was on duty as Police Security at the Airport.
I ran out but couldn't get very far as there were huge boulders down the road. An RAF fellow told me my father was OK and was helping to get the injured out of Rollasons Factory.
He came home about 3.30 in the morning, covered in dust and blood and his boots had big grooves in the heel where the German bombers had machine-gunned them. There were lots of people killed during this raid as there had been no warning at all. I can tell you I was really scared after all that plus I had to find another job as the factory I had been working was demolished, which proved how lucky I had been having been sent home early otherwise I wouldn't be here to tell you this story.
I found another job, soldering surgical needles for the troops. Life was very diferrent what with the air raids and the blackout. It was very hard for us teenagers, but early in 1941 my friend and I did slowly start to live as normal a life as possible. One Sunday afternoon we went to our local dance hall (the Palais in Croydon). We couldn't afford to go into the dance but sat in the veranda upstairs to watch.
There my life changed as there were about four boys, who we didn't know, and one came over and tapped me on the shoulder and said "I'm going to marry you". I thought not a chance!
I wondered what my dad would say as I was the youngest and a real daddy's girl. I did start going out with him and he was really nice.
In November he had to go into the Navy. His brother came with me to Waterloo Station to see him off. As the train pulled out, he shouted "Put the Banns up, I will put in special leave".
He came home December 23rd and we were married December 24th 1942. So I would say some good came out of the War.
He turned out to be such a wonderful husband and father to our son and daughter. Sadly he passed away in May 2009 but I will always be flattered he chose me and we had nearly 67 years of happy marriage.
