Enlisting

I attempted to join up in l943 aged l7, but, although I was working at a wine merchants at the time, my manager got together with my father and as they knew someone at the Labour Exchange, they got me exemption. I was extremely cross, but had to wait a further 9 months before I could try again. this time I volunteered without telling them, and had my date before they could do anything about it. I left home for Wilmslow (square-bashing) on march 8th, the day before my father's birthday and he never forgave me!!! there was a leave ban on and I didn't come back home until August, after never having been away before . it was hard, with us having to break ice to wash with - the winter was so severe and long - but I enjoyed meeting so many people from different walks of life, and soon made lots of friends. This was the beginning of a very happy time for me.

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