Jobs for the girls

During the war years, according to one's age, we were directed to employment. The men were called up and served mostly in the forces. The women, however, had a choice - the forces, the Land Army, or munitions work.

At the beginning of the war I was exempt because I was working in Teagen's grocery shop on Brixton Hill and, of course, food, although rationed, was essential. Eventually at the age of 21 I was told my turn had come to move on and leave that job for a younger person.

Having chosen munitions I was sent to work as a welder in a factory in Silverthorne Road, Battersea (the premises at one time belonged to Cadbury's). We made "Jerry" cans for the desert campaign doing piece and shift work.These cans were, of course, the colour of the desert sands. When eventually the time came for them to be made for Italy and painted green, the company did not have time to change everything. As a result we were evacuated to Hayes and Harlington in Middlesex. In fact the factory was located on the site which was to become Heathrow Airport.

We had to work long hours and only got home to see our families at the weekends. After a while Mrs Warner, the lady with whom I was staying, fell very ill. I decided then that I would travel daily from my home in Clapham.

Quite often I would be delayed, having had to take shelter during an air-raid. To make sure I was up in time to make the awkward journey (no Picadilly line extension then!) I used to have a phone call at 4.00a.m. to make sure I was awake.

After some time I became ill due to a combination of paint fumes and the stress of making that journey every day. I was exempted from that job and directed to work in the War Pensions Office. I stayed in that work until 1948 when I left to start a family with my ex-soldier husband John.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.