The Blitz

This story has been written onto the Peoples War site by CSV Storygather Chris on behalf of Joan Reid. the story has been added to the site with her permission and Joan Reid fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.

I was in the Civil Defence during the first two years of the war. I started as a telephonist in the Report Centre under what was then the Devonport market, this was where the messages/warning and instructions came from in Moiunt Wise. these were passed on where necessary to the air raid wardens , ambulance stations, firestations , police , rescue teams etc. We worked in 26 hour shifts {from 7am - 9am } the next morning.

There were 2 control centres, the Chief being situated under Plymouth Guildhall like Devonport it had a duty officer in charge and representatives of the services mentioned above.

Among the many raids the two events which stand out of course were the March blitz and the April blitz. By this time I had becopme the plotting officer and was on duty for both. Extrodinary experience to have plotted incidents in safety underground and to come up the next morning and actually see the smouldering ruins of what had been the heart of Plymouth where we had been shopping the day before.No transport so had to make our own way home.Once there was no gas, so no cooking, no electricity and water was to be used with care.

The April blitz was aimed at Devonport and the dockyard. Once again my map covered rap[idlyt with different coloured pins until the instruction came that we were to evacuate at once each member to be responsible for their immediate equipment as records had to kept of the raids if possible.A bus was being sent to take us to an emergency control centre. No one apart from the driver knew where we going. Up into the streets on fire, bombs falling when our bus appeared somewhat worse for wear all its windows being blown out and so eventually Pounds House our new HQ. We disembarked in the blackout in a strange place where we had to take our equipment into a secure home each given a blanket and told to find some space on the floor and have a few hours rest , it being in the early hours of the morning.One vivid memory being disturbed by feeling people falling over my feet and quietly grumbling. We learnt that the members of the rescue squad locally coming in like us for a short break.

After the raids ssome sort of order had top be made with the basci things like the shops. many of the houses on Townsend Hill were being taken over by the big stores and Plyouth market was in good enough shape to be the general food market for food of every kind.

One can come to terms with anything especially when ones young so we gradually found our way round again and life went on.

I left Plymouth at the end of the year to go up London to join my parnets and as i was about to have a baby my husband who was in the rmy felt happier for me to be with them. This is how I was in london foe the V1s and V2s.

Our best man was killed in the March blitz. His memories are buried in the commercial grave at Weston Mill.

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