Rosie's War

In memory of Caroline Rose Kelly (nee Cartlidge) 1924-2005 An account of World War stories, written by her children.

Mum was born in Stoke-On-Trent and was 17 years old when she enlisted in the army, the youngest female from her local area, initially our Grandad was not very pleased because of her youth, but came to accept her decision and was very proud of her.

Mum was based in Scotland, after trials in various positions was trained as a switch board operator, elocution lessons were a part of this training.

Mum was known by her family and friends back home by her second name, Rose, there were seven women named Rose sharing the same billet in Scotland, to reduce any confusion the CO decided she would be called Carol, a shortened name for Caroline, this name was to remain with her throughout her life in Liverpool.

Shortly before leaving Scotland Mum acquired a black puppy which she named Whiskey,who she transported by train, to Stoke-On-Trent when she went on home leave. Whiskey was put in the pocket of her army great coat, during the journey Whiskey was spotted popping his head out of Mums' pocket to the delight of the other passengers, many were soldiers, who befriended him and fed him milk. Mum arrived home in the early hours of the morning and woke her young sister Pauline, to present her with the tiny puppy. Whiskey was to remain the family pet for many years.

Following this home leave Mum was posted to Heysham Towers Lancashire, where one of the duties bestowed on her, was to walk the CO's dog along the beach, which Mum took great delight in doing.Mum was billited to a very basic cottage, were she lived with an elderly lady.

The next posting took Mum to the headquarters of operations/communications
in Bushy Park London. During which time her position came under the command of General Eisenhower. This called for the utmost discreation as world leaders communicated through the switch board she operated. Mum was housed in a Top Security block, were during their working hours the switch board operators were locked in. Indeed at one point there was a measles outbreak Mum and her colleagues were quarantined to their working area, to prevent an epidemic. Her claim to fame was David Niven the famous Hollywood actor was her Commanding Officer, The Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a regular caller.

During the time she spent in London, she was visited by our Grandad, who had been in the Royal Engineers, but following a motor cycle accident was discharged from the army in 1940. Grandad was offered a lift to London in a lorry by his neighbour Mr Critchlow, who worked for Pickfords the removal firm, Grandad was in such a hurry not to miss his lift he forgot to put his false teeth in,when he arrived Mum was amused but embarrassed as she had arranged a meal in the mess for him, Mum always spoke fondly of the precious hours she spent with him before his return journey.

The next visitor was her sister Lily who was celebrating her 21st birthday, as part of the celebrations they had a picnic in the park with lots of Mums' American friends, who insisted on treating them to luxury cakes and drinks. The picnic was cut short when the air raid sirens sounded, leading to the W.A.C.S hurriedly jumping up to man he ack ack guns. Later that evening after the all-clear, the girls went to a dance where a soldier commented to Mums' sister that because she was a married women it was not appropriate for her to be out dancing. Mum asked him to repeat his comment, which he did, whereupon Mum promptly gave him a left- hook for insulting her sister.(He would have had second thoughts had he known Grandad had taught her to box) or that Aunty Lils' husband Ern was due to join them at anytime. Uncle Ern was in the Armed Forces stationed in Holland at that time, and visited Mum as often as he could.

While stationed in London, Mum celebrated her 19th birthday, and proudly showed offa very fine watch, which was bought for her by an American Soldier friend.

Following her stint in Bushy Park, Mum was posted to Paris France where she was stationed in the Palace of Versaille, a posting where she would recall many wonderful memories, of time spent with her friends Molly Costello, Trixie and many others, photographs show them building a giant snowman in the fabulous grounds of the Palace, the joy of the Golden Frog Statue's which lined the route of the gardens, were to stay in her memory always, as was the embarrassment of the naked stone figures which adorned the gardens.

This was to be the place where Mum would meet the man she was to marry, Private William Richard Kelly a dispatch rider.It was at a Christmas eve meal in 1942, when William entered the mess hall the attraction was immediate as he politely asked could he sit down beside her, it was a whirl wind romance, with William declaring she would be the woman he would marry, and marriage soon followed. The wedding took place on 9th August 1943 in Mums' home town of Stoke-On-Trent, with Mum stunning in her white wedding dress and William (Dad) very handsome in his army uniform. Williams' sister Sally had travelled over from her home in Bootle Liverpool to be a bridesmaid, and brought along the brides white wedding shoes, as none could be found in Stoke-On-Trent, Mums' sister Ivy was also a bridesmaid to her big sister Rose.

Following the wedding Mum returned to France to her army duties, and the many friends she had made. William was posted to Italy, but before he left he asked a mutual friend to "look after his wife" and make sure she was safe.(It was discovered many years later, this friend had lived in the local area in Bootle Liverpool, were Mum had lived for fifty five years)

While in Paris one day Mum went on a shopping expedition with some friends, and purchased a pair of highly fashionable wedged healed shoes, while they were the height of fashion in Paris,they had never been seen in England, later on home leave to meet her in-laws in Bootle Liverpool (Williams home town) Mum wore the fashionable footwear and boarded a tram, she was promptly offered a seat as the person thought there was something wrong with her
feet!

Back in Paris Mum was looking forward to her 21st birthday which would be on 10th June our Grandmother had posted a birthday cake along with a framed photograph (it is thought this photographwas of Mum and Williams'(Dad) wedding day). The cake and the photograph had arrived safely and was being transported with Mum, travelling along the streets of Paris in a truck, all was well until the bombing started, when everyone was ordered out of the truck on the double, this caused a rush for the exit where upon a soldier put his foot right into the cake box. smashing the glass frame of the photograph, and completely destroying Mums; 21st birthday cake, thankfully the photograph was rescued, much to Mums' releif

In the position she held in communications, Mum stated she and her colleagues were some of the first people to hear the news of the impending end to the war, but as always were sworn to secrecy. Mum revealed there was a switch on the board she operated, if it was flicked to a certain position, conversations could be heard or listened into, but it would have been more than their lives worth to even think about operating that switch.

When France had been liberated in October 1944 Mum had celebrated by walking down the Champs de Elysses, arm in arm with all her friends rejoicing at the impending freedom and an end to the Second World War. Soon after war was declared over, Mum got news that her husband William had had a motor cycle accident, although he was not badly injured he was to be discharged from the army,Mum agreed to leave the army and join her husband to start their married life in Bootle Liverpool. Before saying good-bye to her friends they swopped addresses and promised to keep in touch. Over a period of nearly six decades Mum was to speak often of those very dear friends from her army days, and recall many happy memories of the time they shared to-gether.

It was to be many years after leaving the army before Mum was to catch up with her closest friend Molly Cotello, Molly was traced to America much to Mums' delight, they corresponded frequently, sharing their life stories, Molly was surprised to hear Mum had gone on to have eleven children from her marriage to William, of which ten are living to-day.

As a general rule, Second World War Service personel were not issued with medals before they were de-mobilised, consequently they had to claim them after they had left the Services, it was decided at the time that only those people who remained in the Armed forces would receive their medals automatically.

It was to be fifty years later in 1995 before Mumwas to be issued with her war medals, these included the: 1939-1945 Star, France-German Star, The Defence Medal, 1939-1945 Victory Medal also known as the Defender of the Faith, to her delight Mum received her medals in time to proudly show them off at the V.E. day street party celebrations in 1995, to our knowledge, Mum was the oldest surviving female in Bootle Liverpool to have served in the armed forces up until May 2005.

It is with great pride and pleasure we rembember all those wonderful stories passed onto us by Our Mother which in turn will be passed on to her many grand-children and great grand-children. A wonderful cheerful and inspiring woman who will be loved and remembered always.

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