- Contributed by
- actiondesksheffield
- People in story:
- Mrs Edna Gould
- Location of story:
- Chesterfield, Derbyshire
- Background to story:
- Civilian
- Article ID:
- A4634246
- Contributed on:
- 31 July 2005
This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Norman Wigley of the BBC Radio Sheffield Action Desk on behalf of Edna Gould, and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.
During the war, I got a job at Chesterfield Tube Works and started as a tester and examiner – we were testing oxygen bottles for use by aircrew and naval crew, that the company made.
After about a year the crane drivers at the works were called up and I was asked if I would like to drive an overhead crane. I was in my early twenties then. I had three weeks training. To get to my cabin on the crane I had to climb about 50 or 60 feet up ladders. We had a rope to slide down in an emergency, but thank goodness I never had to use it. With practice it wasn’t long before I could place that crane to within an inch of where I wanted it to be.
My father was upset that I had to wear overalls at work – he didn’t think it was suitable wear for young women.
When I wasn’t at work I was a nursing assistant trained by the local doctor, but we had to supply our own bandages! We had to turn out if there was an air raid.
Pr-BR
© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo 