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15 October 2014
WW2 - People's War

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War Memories: Returning Home From Africa

by ateamwar

Contributed by 
ateamwar
People in story: 
Mrs E Jones and Captain E Jones
Location of story: 
England and West Africa
Background to story: 
Civilian
Article ID: 
A4087550
Contributed on: 
18 May 2005

When the war broke out I was in West Africa with my husband. He was delivering cargo to the Gold Coast and Ivory Coast. I had to come home in a convoy, a journey that would normally take two weeks...it took us six. We had to avoid submarines, and ships were being sunk, constantly, all around us.

On arrival in England, much to our astonishment, everywhere was dark due to the black outs.

Durong one particular episode, we experienced a miraculous escape. One evening when we out visiting friends, we were told that Wallasey (Wirral, Merseyside) was alight! We arrived home the next day to find that our house had been hit by an incindery bomb. We had to go and stay with friends, but we were unharmed.

My husband then went back to sea. Whilst my war effort was as a clerk at the Western Command Offices, Burton Manor. I made good friends here and enjoyed my time.

I therefoe have many happy and sad memories of the war period.

'This story was submitted to the People’s War site by BBC Radio Merseyside’s People’s War team on behalf of the author and has been added to the site with his / her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.'

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