- Contributed byÌý
- Wood_Green_School
- Location of story:Ìý
- Sussex
- Background to story:Ìý
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:Ìý
- A4230406
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 21 June 2005
Interview With His Maternal Grandmother’s sister, Anne, of Chichester, West Sussex by Ewan, Year 8 student; 19 December 2004
Q Where did you live in 1939?
A I lived near Brighton with my sister, Oriel and mother Jean.
Q How old were you?
A I was 22 years old in 1917.
Q Do you remember war being announced?
A When war was announced, I was on holiday in Northern Ireland, so I had to come back straight away on a ship. I first got a job in Brighton Parish, writing ration books.
Q What did you do during the war?
When war broke out, I then joined the Royal Navy. My job was to cipher and decode secret messages and I was based in Northern Ireland, Liverpool and Belfast, finishing just before the end of the war.
Q Any happy memories?
A There are some happy memories — I particularly remember the service parties aboard little merchant ships in the harbour.
Q Do you have any recollections of air raids?
A My recollections of the war include a doodlebug landing outside my house and blowing the roof off whilst I was sleeping!
Q What do you remember about the end of the war?
A When the war ended, I was in London and I remember people dancing about in Trafalgar Square in celebration.
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