War Work in the factories

I was fourteen when war started, and away from home in domestic service, which I hated. By the time I was sixteen, women of 18 had to register for war work and as I had always wanted to join the ATS, I thought my chance would come when I became 18. However my husband-to-be, a regular soldier, said a definite "No!" as he wanted to keep tabs on me. We were planning to marry before then.
I decided to apply for war work in munitions before I could be conscripted. I went to an engineering college in Bournemouth to become a centre lathe turner. During my first spell of night shift of twelve hours I fell asleep, I soon learnt to cope with this with the help of my first cigerette and a fearsome foreman. Most jobs were in terrible garages turned into factories and I was always covered in oil and grease.
Bournemouth was quite lucky regarding bombing, compared with some towns. However, one summer evening, coming out of the factory to get on our buses to take us home, we met Jerry on a daylight raid strafing the road with bullets. Terrified, we dived for cover under the buses, no time to get to shelters. It was a bit scary and I still don't remember getting home.
We grew up quickly in those days!!!

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