FOR KING & COUNTRY

The large room used was a type of NAAFI canteen and here all the chaps were playing cards , reading etc. before we joined them we had a lovely meal which ended with marmalade pudding, it was delicious. 
The date of sailing was November ? 1946 and the weather was dreadful. We cast off about 7pm, I remember that time and I remarked how smoothly the ships passage was, only to be told we were still on the river Humber. We finally left the river and entered the North Sea and Oh!! Boy! did I know it. Apparently there was a 60 mile an hour gale blowing and we hit it. 
Back in the NAAFI the card games were in full swing and Peggy and I watched with interest, I hadn’t a clue about card games. 
After a while I noticed the regularity of chaps turning a beautiful shade of green, and dashing out on deck. To leave the ‘room’ you had to lift your feet over the board at the foot of the door and owing to their “Mal-de-mer” (sea sickness) many did not negotiate this and ended up in heaps on the floor. 
This caused a lot of hilarity but by this time Peggy and I had joined in the game and soon we had little piles of money, much to my amazement. We were playing with this very tall airman and saw this horrible green pallor on his face, and he was off. 
We were congratulating ourselves on our luck at not being ill and our little pile of cash. By this time the boat or ship was rolling around and the prisoner of war chaps were being allowed out on deck in batches. Conditions in the hold were shocking. Stench and people very ill. Then it became Peggy and my turn to succumb. It was horrible, we dashed on deck and leaning over the side, I kept apologising, I don’t know why, everyone was in the same position. The one’s who weren’t ill were trying to comfort the one’s who were ill. 
Peggy, my pal was from Birmingham and she had a ‘Brummie’ accent. We were sat on a seat with our heads down and hands in our greatcoat pockets when this chap approached us. In her ‘brummie’ accent she told him to b…… off. When I think back it sounded so funny, but not at the time. After all the retching and wishing to die, I found a niche, out of the wind and spent the rest of the night in the arms of a fellow RAF sufferer. 

When we disembarked everyone pale and weak, we joined a train, which was to take us to a holding unit in Bielefeld, which was miles away. This train was known as the Rhine Army Special and it had many carriages and we all boarded it for the journey which ended in Bad Oeynhausen. What an eye opener this was to become, to see all the damage caused by the bombing, nothing was left standing, just piles of rubble. When the train came to an halt for different reasons, out of the rubble appeared many children all asking for chocolate for Mama and cigarettes for Papa. For the long journey we were issued with large white bags containing food and drink. Seeing the children we all handed down these bags and it was sad to see the mad scramble to reach them. It was frightening to see the said children diving under the train and were on tender hooks in case the train pulled off. This was our first glimpse of war torn Germany and there was more to see as we continued our journey. 
Roads were very badly damaged and most had craters as quite a lot of the roads were cobbled and were quite dangerous to drive on, as I found out to my cost later. 
After an uneventful journey (apart from the sad sight of the children) we arrived in Bad Oeynhausen. There we were taken in lorries to Bielefeld. 
A few days later we were posted back to Bad Oeynhausen and I remained there for the rest of my Army career. 
Our company now changed from 123 Car Coy to 721 Car Coy and I now was part of the Field Marshall Montgomery’s 21st Army group. 

 

Skiing

 

My bulldog badge on my sleeve was exchanged for a new insignia, this time it became two crossed swords on a red shield. I also received my skill at arms badge and good conduct stripe which was worn on my left sleeve. 
Our peaked caps were exchanged for berets, which signified we were with the British Army of occupation. We also were given white duffle coats for the winter and they were lovely and warm. In the summer we wore open necked shirts all very different from the uniform worn in England. Bad Oeynhausen was a garrison town, so we were billeted behind barbed wire barricades. Our house was 21 Banhof Strasse, which had previously belonged to a German doctor. In the middle of our room was a huge pot bellied stove which threw out a lot of heat. We had German ladies to clean our room and they did our washing if needed. We paid in cigarettes and soap for which they were very grateful. Their soap rations were very meagre. Luckily I didn’t smoke and my cigarettes were used for bartering on the black market. I used 30 of my cigarettes to have a perm, quite an antiquated experience. Your hair was put in these silver tubes hanging down from a hood. 
Someone crocheted a lovely table cloth for 300 cigarettes, I am writing this story on it and it is still going strong after 59 years, a little frayed in places, but ok. Our cigarette issue was 50 cigarettes in a round tin. 

My first duty was to drive our second in command, a very shy and nervous person in one of the original Volkswagons. The engine was in the back and what a noise it made. I moved on to other details and it became quite interesting, (details meaning jobs). One of the many details I made was to drive for the Army Pay Corps, at the time troops were paid in German marks and Army pay was being put into their bank accounts and amassing lots of money. The Army decided to so something about this and secretly started to make their own ‘money’. This turned out to be notes called ‘BAFS’ in different denominations and two coins in compressed shiny material , equal to 1/2p & 1p ( I still have one 1/2p). All this was hush! hush! And when I appeared on the scene, was kept in the outer offices. I didn’t suspect anything until the time came when I had to take one of the Officers to a place called Detmold, where the many bags that had been put into my car were being taken to be burned. That put a stop to the black market in marks. Another time I had to take an Officer to a meeting at Mohne See and I was able to view the dam which had been blown up by the RAF this was 1946/47 and it must have been repaired very quickly, as I was able to walk across it. The countryside was beautiful and reminded me of our Lake District. 

On our week-ends off some of us used to go to different leave centres. One was in the Hartz Mountains, once again beautiful countryside. In the winter it was a ski resort, but I was there in spring. It was close to the Russian border and you had to be careful not to wander over by mistake. The Russians were a rough scary lot. 

Another time we went to Winterberg with the idea of learning to ski, Ha! The train pulled into the station in lovely sunshine, no snow! Rather than waste time, we practiced using our ski’s ready for the snow falling; our leave was for 72 hours. The resort was wonderful, the hotel, very select, the food, good and making all this sound very romantic, a violinist was doing the rounds, playing all these ‘soppy’ German tunes and we lapped it up. The day passed and still no snow. So we walked through the marvellous countryside, heaven. We enjoyed our stay never the less, but disappointed about not having the chance to ski. Our time over, we boarded the train to return to base and lo and behold the heavens opened and the snow cascaded down. Enough said. 

 

Americans

 

Another episode in my Army career was also quite interesting, I had to take our chief Medical Officer to Belsen, why! I don’t know. All I can remember is taking him there and having to wait whilst he completed his business. Whilst I waited I noticed how very quiet it was, no bird life and everything very still. I was parked near to a building looking similar to a Nissen Hut, with a rounded corrugated roof. My eyes started smarting and was told that drums of poison were kept there after the camp was closed down. They must have been leaking. 

In between all these excursions we pottered about in Bad Oeynhausen our home base. 

The winter of 1947 was terrible the roads were all snowed up and all the pipes in the houses were frozen, so we were without heat and water. We all wore anything we owned to keep warm. All sorts of colourful items were worn, anything to keep warm. Thank goodness for our winter issue duffle coats. The roads were so bad the men refused to drive, so we girls stepped in. We had some hairy moments, skidding all over the place. Quite exhilarating at times, driving in one direction, than the next minute facing the opposite direction. We were asked to deliver food and fuel to the married families. I must say I wasn’t very good at driving a 3 tonner. Remember most of the roads were cobbles and bombed. One Christmas, or shortly before then, the daily Sketch newspaper came to visit, to see how the girls in the British Army of the Rhine were coping. Lots of photographs and tales told for our families back home. I’ve still got the photographs. 

Looking back I seem to have done quite a few interesting things that I would never have experienced if I hadn’t joined the ATS. I still remember my number W/326861. I joined May 1945 to June 1948, having signed on for a further 6 months. I was in Germany from November 1946 ‘til June 1948. When we went on details over a certain time and distance, we were issued with dry rations. What was unusual was the tins of self heating soup, they were very good and I must say I haven’t heard of them since. 

Once I had to drive to Frankfurt with a soldier as escort, having to pick up a special spare part. Really it was a very long drive, nearly all day. Why they sent and ATS driver with just one escort I don’t know. We stopped off at a German pub for something to eat and drink, when we came out all the dry rations had been stolen, I didn’t care, I was just pleased they hadn’t jacked the car up and stolen the wheels. After an overnight stop in Frankfurt I went to pick my car up from an Army compound. When I arrived to the compound and collected my vehicle I was amazed to find a huge American Army Band standing outside. When I stepped out of the car and they saw me in my Army uniform they all cheered and gathered round me making a fuss. Unusual to see a British girl in the American sector. 

 

21st Birthday

 

Another episode (they keep popping back in my memory) was the time I entered a fancy dress party. One of the girls went as Mercury in a two piece bathing costume with silver wings etc. What a figure. She by the way was a niece of Godfrey Winn the author. I went as Mrs Mopp, hair in curlers, fag in mouth, red nose, turban, Army boots tied with string and the usual Army issue directoire khaki knickers, hanging below the knees. We pranced around to cheers, Mercury won 1st prize and me the 2nd prize. They didn’t call me ‘Headcase Hill’ for nothing. 

To celebrate my 21st birthday, a gang of us went to the Friesian Islands to a place called Nordeney. We stayed in a lovely house called ‘Villa Theresa’, we certainly enjoyed our stay, there having met a group of American and British troops. The island was lovely, the beach and sand dunes, all white sand and lots of bird life. There was a good swimming pool with a wave machine and did have fun. The day of my 21st birthday, the lady of the Villa made me a delicious cake with candles on. That night we were celebrating in the club and when I arrived, all the lights were switched on and the Americans had made a huge silver key with everyone’s name on, plus a large bottle of champagne. What a night! I’ve still got the key and I’m now 80 years old. 
This island was supposed to be where the Germans launched the doodle bugs, which reigned havoc in London. Before I left Germany, I also visited a leave centre in Kolding, Denmark for 72 hours. After another long journey via Schleswig Holstein over a long winding viaduct, we stopped in Flensburg to change our money to Kroners. This was the border town. When we arrived at the leave centre, we changed into our shorts (made from Army sheets) and looked round. The sand was white and the sea so blue. In the club at night we met up with a group of Coldstream Guards all 6ft etc. I might add I didn’t drink alcohol, but for some reason I had 3 cherry brandies and ½ a bottle of champagne. I remember doing the conga all over the club tables, chairs and even climbing through the windows and having a jolly good time. 

Another leave centre I visited in Bavaria at a place called Erhwald, we stayed in a chalet half way up a mountain side. The road was so steep the transport had to try backing up the road but couldn’t manage it. We unloaded our luggage, plus ourselves and sat by the side of the road, which bordered a huge meadow. The sun was scorching and my memory is of us listening to hordes of crickets singing. We reached our chalet and shown our rooms, with their huge duvets and feather beds. Our stay here was for 3 weeks. Once again we climbed mountains and walked through shady woods. Our evenings we spent in the NAAFI for dancing and eating Austrian food. One night on our way back to the chalet, much to my shame I stole a bell off one of the cows neck. I use it as a door stop. 

One of our trips was to Oberammergau which was a few miles away so we borrowed bicycles. This time we were in another American sector, ours being a British sector. When we arrived at the barrier we were made very welcome when they knew we were British Army girls. Another time we stayed for one night in the Alpenhof Hotel. Very posh. We found our way to the ‘Bavarian Retreat’ which the American Army used for their entertainment. Everything was laid on for their troops, outside was a mini golf course which we enjoyed. At night we visited a night club called the ‘Casa Carioca’ which was something special. The roof went back and you danced under the stars, during the day the floor went back and it was a swimming pool. 
We cycled to Oberammergau a few times during our leave and it was very pleasant. The lakes and views magnificent. 

 

Holidays

 

The Army took us on an all day excursion to the ‘Mad King of Bavaria’s castle’ known as Schloss Linderhof and saw all the weird and wonderful gadgets inside. You pressed a button and the table disappeared downstairs and returned with food etc. marble and pieces of precious china from different parts of Europe were on view. Very interesting. Outside in the grounds you climbed a lot of steps then disappeared into a grotto below ground. This grotto was a perfect situation for Ludwig to listen to all the music that had been composed and he was the first to hear. The front of the castle was a huge fountain and it was supposed to be the highest in Europe. We also visited Ettal, which was occupied by monks who distilled ‘Benedictine Liquor’. 
The highlight of our visit was to the ‘open Air Theatre’ in Oberammergau, and we were shown round backstage and saw all the costumes. It was all fairly primitive, as the audience sat on benches and loads of pigeons over head. It was a very full day and most enjoyable. Our trips round the village in open topped Landau’s, driven by white haired and bearded gentlemen in their lederhosen was lovely. 

After a lapse of nearly three or four years and much persuading, by family and friends I am trying to catch up with the lost years. Let’s hope my memory will snap into action again after all this time. Where was I? Oh yes! Bavaria or the Austrian Tyrol as I knew it.

Incidentally a rather nasty accident occurred one night in Ehrwald. We were accosted by a very angry Black Watch soldier, who whipped a razor blade out of his ‘Glengarry’ (hat) Apparently he had heard we had been hob knobbing with the American soldiers and as his sister had, had an unlucky experience with one he was very much against their presence. We were saved by his pals restraining him. 

After our three weeks holiday came to an end we returned to Bad Oeynhausen, our base, and resumed our usual activities, namely our morning trips to the Red shield centre for our morning cheese rolls, never have they tasted so good or since. I also remember the ‘gooey’ cream cakes. No thought of dieting in those days. Some of our evenings were spent in the YMCA listening to music. I associate ‘Clare-de-Lune’ with those evenings. I once won a quiz with the opening bars of that tune. Mostly we spent our evenings dancing in the Merrico Ballroom which was situated outside the barrier. We were allowed to wear civilian clothes to the dances. All our dresses were swapped with each other, so we hardly ever wore the same dress twice. We all owned one dress each. My pals dress was a beautiful pink flowered nylon that I usually borrowed. Did I feel the ‘bee’s knees’. Goodness knows what the soldiers thought when we used to enter the jitter bugging contests. Skirts flying, good job we didn’t wear our Army issue knickers. Not a pretty sight! 
We loved our dancing and it was no good anyone coming for us if they couldn’t dance. We had special partners for the tango, rumba, slow foxtrot and the ‘jitter bugging’ of course. I still like dancing, but you know that saying ‘the spirit’s willing, but the flesh is weak’. That’s me. Old age, and a wonky knee has caught up with me.