(continued from Issue 7)
Our next destination was to be Scotland. On the way up we stayed at Bedford to see one of
my brothers, but we didn't like that so off we all went by train to Oban in Scotland
(rather, Cannel Ferry). Here we rented a house and settled down to a more peaceful life -
so we thought. I found a job in an office of a builders and undertakers in Oban and
travelled each day on the train from Connel. (I could include the 'gory' typing of
statements and descriptions of dead bodies washed up on the coast, but I won't!). My
salary for a week's work was 15 shillings (75p).
I had a friend in the village, who had just joined the WRNS and was based in Oban, so I
was very keen to join as well. However, I was only seventeen and you couldn't join until
you were seventeen and a half and then the Navy was very choosy as to whom they would
take. However, I managed to persuade my mum to fill in all the application forms for when
I achieved the right age. This was very hard for her to agree to as soon after we arrived
in Scotland my youngest brother was killed whilst roof-spotting on top of the GEC Building
in Southampton, and then four months later another brother died of his injuries in the
Desert Army (Rats) in Cairo.
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It wasn't until December 1941 that I was
accepted into the Wrens and then I started a whole new life. |
At first I was just a messanger in the Naval-Officer-in-Charge's office and did all sorts
of things: carrying up buckets of coal for the Chief's fire from the basement, to going on
trawlers with 'secret' messages to the bigger ships anchored outside Oban bay.
The bay was very busy with naval craft and we also had a lot of RAF,
Sunderland and Caterlina flying boats based in Oban.
During my first year I was allowed to go home tosleep and for some weekends. At the same
time, between Connel and Oban the Royal Marines suddenly appeared in one of the bays
(Dunstaffnage). They had come to build an Admiralty Floating Dock (AFD). These were used
for repairing some of the bigger ships damaged by enemy torpedos or shells, and of course
they had to build a great many Nissen huts to house all the men who did repairs. We had a
lot of RMEs billeted in the houses at Connel until their own accommodation was built. I
got to know quite a few as we used to have dances and whist drives in the Village Hall, my
future husband was one of them!
More next Issue
Mrs Wynne-Roberts
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Windham Street, Sheringham
Always wanted: Glass,
China & Good Quality Linen
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| READER'S
LETTERS |
Hello
My name is Denise Reynolds and I am helping my grandad to search his family tree. He is
also trying to locate a cousin of his who was born in Sheringham. I know that the family
had two guest houses in Sheringham and that his father was joint owner in a furniture shop
in the high street which grandad now thinks maybe a restaurant.
The name of the first guest house they had was Gordon House. They then moved to another
guest house called the Foo Jay Jarma (not sure of the spelling though). This guest house
was bombed and the family except the son was killed.
Any information on any of these houses and the furniture shop would be very much
appreciated as I have searched the Internet without success. Their names were Frederick
Smith (Father) and we think his wife's name is Connie. Their son's name was Gordon
Frederick Smith and daughter was called Peggy.
My email is Denisesreynolds@aol.com
Thankyou for your time. |
 |
BECKHAM HOUSE
Hi.
I'm trying to find out information about the old work house I think was named Beckham
House. My grandmother gave birth to my mother in 1933 while working/staying there. Any
information please.
Many thanks
M Linder
email: peglegmike40@aol.com
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SHERINGHAM LAUNDERETTE
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