I was a newly-wed

Submitted on behalf of Freda Wooding by Stafford Library.

I was a newly-wed when war broke out and, as usual then, had to give up my teaching post. We should no longer be needed until all male teachers had been taken into the Forces.

After sharing my home with mainly RAF and (evacuated) Londoners, etc, I decided to find work and not wait to be called back to teach.

The Royal Naval Stores, Coventry was ruined by bombing. Rising Brook school was newly built and all office staff from Coventry were brought there. 16 MU (also newly built) number 5 site (Weston Road) housed spares. Local people were recruited and I went there and was started as a Ledger Clerk. All work was “Nautical”. Daily invoices “the bundle” were brought round by messenger. Requirements by naval air stations, etc. were “demands”, replies to requests “signals”. The vans connecting Rising Brook with 5 site 16 MU — “the ferry”. We “posted” our ledgers. Our office leaders were ANSOs, DNSOs, Head of Section. NSO — “the Chief”. No uniforms!

Hours were 8.30am till 7.30pm, one early night 5.15pm, one weekend in three off duty. During Battle of Britain and all emergencies hours were 8.30am — 8.30pm.

Work people were from all ranks and several countries (trainees especially).

Five site 16 MU and part of Twyfords (Etruria) were the main stores. (Storekeeper — ‘Bing’ Crosby). Quarterly ledger checks with both. Errors we dreaded!

Each section (office) dealt with different planes: Fleet Air Arm needs, Bristol spares, American spares, Outer replacements — wings, canvases, rotors, etc. There was also interchange of stock between other stores and bases and we could ‘demand’ on them. Some I remember, eg Boscombe Down, Worth Down, Manston, Portland, Devonport, Eastleigh, RNAS, Pentland, Kinross, Arbroath, Perth, Macrihanish!! (lovely name — with storekeeper Angus Montieff!).

My ‘boss’ eventually moved to Port Said and met my husband there — imagine the gossip!

In 1944 we trained a group for service in Perth, Australia. By this time the Admiralty had priority and, when a teaching vacancy came up for me, the answer was YOU STAY HERE! I had a temporary Civil Service Establishment granted and I stayed on. My name was added to the Australian list but I decided against it — just as well, for my husband returned in 1945.

Loads of memories — especially of the deep friendships we all had — how everyone stepped in at the bad times — the companionship and concern each had for the other. Happy days? No doubt and loyalty unsurpassed!

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