Interviewed by None
Date: 01/01/2004
Transcribed by Mollie Day
Hertford Oral History Group
Recording no: O2004.16
Interviewees: Mollie Day
Date: 2004
Venue: 174 Cozens Road, Ware
NOTE: This is one of a number of self-recorded personal history transcripts. It is typed directly by the individual and, since it was not conducted by interview, is in a different format to that normally adopted by HOHG
We came to Hertford in November 1939, two months after the Second World War started. Eileen was training to become a nurse so she lived in at the hospital (Haymeads). Louie was still working for Mr and Mrs Bacon at Hockerill so they offered her accommodation with them. Bob was already in the Army so I alone went with Mum and Dad to 12, Foxholes Avenue, Hertford to live there. Dad had to get used to working from County Hall, Mum had to adjust and make new friends. I had to go to the Infants' School (Faudel Phillips) under Miss Baker, but soon transferred to Abel Smith Junior School.
That first winter was very bad with heavy snow. One day we were walking back home along Ware Road and I asked if we could catch the bus. Mum showed me twopence halfpenny, this was all she had and it was not enough for the bus. It seemed such a long walk that day. I didn't ask again.
My mother really hated Hertford in those early days. The rent of the house was much higher than in Bishop's Stortford and she didn't like the house as much (12s.6d a week in Bishop's Stortford and 18s.6d a week in Hertford.) In those days you had to pay yourselves for moving house even though Dad was forced to move or leave his job. It was a difficult time, not only in our family life but also the beginning of the war, rationing, making blinds at the windows for the whole house to stop any light showing through. Air raid shelters were erected in people's gardens or in the house provided cover under a massive table with wire mesh. Aunt Rose had this type. Dad decided against any shelter. He said he would die in his own bed if necessary.
He set up target practice in our garden and said he would shoot any German who landed on our patch. Then there was digging for Britain so he was busy cultivating as much ground as possible and he took on a 10 pole allotment as well at the top of the road, later to be called Brazier's Field. Fortunately, he liked gardening. I was encouraged to help him on the allotment when I was given the job of weeding the onion patch as I had small hands. Also, to pick up the potatoes, counting each plant's yield. Mum was always busy making do, cooking tasty dishes for us on few rations. We were lucky to have a bigger cheese allowance because Dad was given the Agricultural allowance. We were only allowed 1s.2d worth of meat a week for each person. Sometimes we had used 2 rations in the week so there was little chance of getting a small joint at the weekend. My mum would get.me to go to the butcher (Mr Spencer) and asked me to look at him as if I were hungry. It always worked and he would give us a small joint.
We were allowed a few luxuries with our points system which meant you could save up for a tin of fruit or a small tin of salmon. These were real treats. When we knew my brother was coming home on leave, Mum saved all she could to give him nice meals when he came home for 10 days. Dad could get jealous. Mum would make a nice fruit cake or a lovely trifle. One Christmas, Bob was home for Christmas and Mum had made Christmas puddings and a cake. When it came to dishing up the pudding, Mum made sure that Bob had the only half a crown in the pudding. The rest of us, including Dad, had 6d only each. It caused quite an upset, but Mum rightly wanted to make Bob feel special for these few days he was home. We all understood except Dad. There was also rivalry between father and son. Dad always felt he was fit and strong, and had been in the Grenadier Guards in World War 1. So Dad and Bob would compete on the number of press-ups each could do. I often had to count them. Dad was extremely strong and often won on this. This would follow on, using their air guns and I had to set up the targets and check results. Then they moved on to darts, billiards and snooker, often playing well into the night. Mum would sometimes join in on the darts as she had won a special award from the News of the World for getting 3 60's, something Dad had not got! This was always a bit of a joke as he was such a good darts player.
When brother Bob came home on leave there was so much excitement. It is hard to say just how much was done in preparation. One time we had a lot of snow around. While on leave, he made me the very best of toboggans - the envy of all the other children. We went up to the fields to play with it. My brother led the group and I sat behind him. A lovely time and a brief enjoyable period. After he left I used to take Trixie my brown and white spaniel dog on a ride on it to my friend's home in Townsend Street. It was quite a job pulling her along but I wanted her to share in my joys.
Although the war years were grim in many ways, there was also a feeling of everyone helping each other. We were all in it together. I well remember an early part of the war when a landmine exploded between Ware Road and Tamworth Road. Several people were killed. Mum went and looked later at the damage. She noticed the staircases remained standing, so from then on I had a bed made up in the pantry. I had to crawl into it every night. At least I felt safer and was close to Mum and Dad.
The night the landmine dropped, I can remember seeing so much earth high in the sky above the green roof tops of the street above us. We had some damage - windows out and the bathroom sink cracked. The back door was flung open by the blast. It was very worrying. Later we saw a big red glow in the sky - this we found out later was the blitz in London. Life went on. Dad went to work, I went to school, walking each day with my dear friend Sheelah, carrying our gas masks and beakers for our milk each day. We came home for lunch. Starting the day was running round Abel Smith School and in the twitchels organised by Major Upton. He believed we needed to keep fit by this outdoor activity. Of course we spent a lot of time in the air raid shelters and we also spent only ½ days in school because we had to share our facilities with the Jewish Orphanage boys.
We had evacuees staying with us too. Two Jewish Orphanage boys stayed for quite a time, Sidney Levene and David Moss. Sidney was a lovely boy who took an interest and pride in everything. David was not very honest and stole my sister Eileen's watch. Also, he was caught snooping through the keyhole while Eileen was bathing. He got a smack for that. Mum did her best and sometimes their families would come to visit on a Sunday. Also the Rabbi would call to make sure they didn't eat pork or bacon. Sidney was in the production of the Mikado, so we had a show at home where Mum and Dad sat on the stairs and they rigged curtains up for Sidney to give us a demonstration of his show. After they left we had a Battersea Grammar School boy come to stay. He was a big worry to Mum, saying he had lost her money when he went shopping for her. Later we found out he was selling our coal for 2s.6d a bucket. A neighbour told my mum how good it was of her to sell our coal. This caused a rumpus you may be sure, and soon after this he left us.
Sometimes Sheelah and I would go shopping for our Mums. Sheelah would have much more to get than me. I liked the idea of choosing the cheese which I was allowed to do as I loved cheese a lot. I would eat some on the way home and Mum said mice had got to it. Sheelah would buy a lot of fish and shell fish. Sometimes Mum would cook sprats for a change or some herrings for tea on a Sunday. We never went completely short because Mum was such a good cook and could make our dishes very tasty out of almost nothing.
For recreation, we did go to the cinema a lot, usually twice a week if my homework allowed me to. This was when I got to the Central School in 1943. So different from Abel Smith School and Miss Peck complaining about my knitting and sewing. I hated both so much though Sheelah was good at these activities. I always had dropped a stitch in my knitting and was shown up by Miss Peck in front of the whole class.
As soon as I arrived at the Central School I just knew I would be happy there and I was. So different to see so many teachers offering a wide variety of subjects. We made out our own time table and were given a rough book each as well as a book for each subject. We were told not to waste paper and even our rough book was checked to see we had used this up properly - margins as well. I joined the school choir and loved taking part in various festivals. This meant rehearsing a lot and being competitive with other schools. Mr Tustin (our Music Teacher) was excellent. This was a Church school so we said prayers every morning and evening. Also hymn singing on Thursday mornings in assembly that took place each day. I was in Excelsior House (Red) and we were encouraged to earn credit and honour marks for our house. Every teacher also belonged to one of the 4 houses. Dreadnought - Yellow, Shackleton - Blue and Wilberforce - Green. I stayed in the same house all through school and earned a lot of credit and honour marks for my house. Life there was really good.
At the age of 13 I was learning shorthand, typewriting, commerce and book-keeping – all good subjects if I wanted to work in an office (which I did). All of our teachers gave us maximum encouragement and help. I was very sad when I left in June 1947 but I am going too fast.
During those war years we went to the County cinema as much as possible. We only had 2oz of sweets each week, later changing to 4oz a week. It was my first job to allocate sweets for Mum and Dad and I cut up small pieces of jelly or put cough pastilles into a little packet each - no bars of chocolate or pop corn like today. Complete with this nourishment and our gas masks and torches, we would go out to the cinema. Often the doors of the cinema would rattle while a raid was going on. These cinema trips were so important and made us forget for a short time what our world was really like - a lot of drudgery and worry. Much more for Mum and Dad than me, as they tried to protect me.
Two happy times I can remember were Louie and Bob's weddings. Louie married Aubrey on 9 August 1942 at All Saints Church, Hertford. Eileen and I were bridesmaids, both dressed in blue with pink flowers. Louie had a lovely white satin brocade dress with train. She had met Aubrey while working in her shop in Bishop's Stortford and they shared fire watch duties as well.
The only sadness was that Dad had had an accident at work and was in hospital having been shot in his leg, accidentally by a farmer. I remember the policeman coming to the house complete with my dad's boot covered in blood and his gun. I opened the door - what a shock it was! The wedding preparations were too advanced to cancel so after the service we all went up to Kings Ward at County Hospital complete in our finery. Bob gave Louie away in Dad's absence. We then went on to the Mayflower Hotel [in North Road] where a buffet meal was laid out in a marquee. David (my cousin) and I blotted our copybook by fishing all the pieces of orange floating on the top of the claret cup. We had never seen anything like it before and enjoyed the chance to sample it. There were a lot of guests including my aunts and cousins. It was a happy time for everyone to enjoy.
Bob's marriage was very good but at the time it caused much upset. This was because Bob was coming home on leave in October 1944 and he had just rekindled a friendship with a girl from Ipswich whom he had not seen for some time. When he came home he asked Mum and Dad if she could come and stay for a few days. They agreed. Bob was to meet her in London first. Mum said to Bob before he left, "Don't go and get engaged yet. You haven't seen her for a long time." Bob said no he wouldn't. BUT, when they came home that evening they waited until after our supper of macaroni cheese and chips, when they said they had something to say to Mum and Dad. I was there, all ears ready to hear it all. They announced they were to marry by special licence on Sunday at All Saints Church, Hertford. Before coming home, they had rung Sybil's parents in Ipswich but they said the wedding could not be there. They felt the war was on and they didn't know what was to lie ahead. Louie, as usual, was great and offered her wedding gown for Squibs and we two again would wear the same bridesmaids’ dresses, mine being a bit short two years on. Mum and Dad did come round and Dad risked a lot by going to the black market for extra food provisions. I had to stand guard outside a shop in Sawbridgeworth while Dad was getting all these extra provisions. I was scared but fortunately we got away with it. I lost my 12th birthday cake that year.. Mum had made it but had not iced it so it was turned into their wedding cake. Many years later they gave me the cake I had lost.
The house at Foxholes was turned into a full sit down meal for about 30 people, mostly our immediate family. Only Squibs, Mum, Dad and brother Ray came.
Unfortunately, there was a terrible row on the night before the wedding between the. Vinsons and my mother. Mum and Dad had arranged a small party at the Duncombe Arms Public House in Hertford, and Squibs wanted to go with Bob and our family. I didn't go but stayed at home with her parents and brother. I suppose they got back about 10.45 pm and her parents were waiting for her, saying she should not have been out so late and what a bad thing it was just before her wedding. They went on to say they wondered what sort of family she was marrying into with Bob having no career in mind. My mother heard all this and was very upset about her son (my brother). She rounded on them on the landing upstairs (so unusual for her) but told them they were not to worry about him as he was a good worker and given a chance, he would do well after the war.
At present, he was engaged in warfare, having just returned from D-Day and his award of the M.M. Squibs' parents' comments had made Mum really angry and upset. Her words proved true as later, after the war, he joined the Police and became a high flyer in the Essex Police Constabulary. At that time in the Army, he was a Battery Sergeant Major aged 23! After that, unfortunately, there was always a rift between my mum and dad and the Vinsons, especially as they chose not to help out in any way with the finances for the wedding. So sad this, as Squib and my brother were so happy together and they had two children which Mum and Dad were so pleased about. But they did not meet the Vinsons again though Squib and Bob came home to stay on various occasions.
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Squib loved whist so she would go with Mum sometimes and then Dad and Bob would go out for a snooker evening.
Previous to their wedding, Bob had been involved with the D-Day landings on Gold beach. We felt very proud of his valour on that day. Mum heard of it through a neighbour who said he was mentioned in despatches. At the time, we didn't understand the importance of this but later he was decorated by General Montgomery with the M.M.in Normandy.
During this time Christmas was always very special Louie would come home and we would trim the Christmas tree together. Also we made up small gifts for everyone, including some funny ones, like from the man in the moon. She taught me so much and always had time for me. We would always play a variety of games including cards and monopoly, but it would end up round the piano with Louie playing, Eileen singing and Dad trying to play his piano accordion. I used to turn the music pages over. Louie bought all the latest songs and I would learn them quickly with her. I was eager to please. She taught us to dance and one year she bought me slippers with bells on the points. How I loved dancing around. We usually had the main celebration on Boxing Day not Christmas Day because Eileen was a nurse and had to work on Christmas Day. Bob and Squib came when they could but his Army duties often prevented it. Much later, Aubrey bought a set of drums which he played and we had many hijinks together. Lovely memories.
Mum and Dad and I spent lots of time together either playing cards or paper games. We did this very regularly and we always enjoyed these kind of activities. I could play darts, draughts and attempted chess but was not good at this. Dad would beat me most times. We depended on the radio a lot for outside news although Dad had the Daily Mail every day and also an evening paper that we would get together after school. We had a lot of fun just being together, complete with Trixie, our dog, who took pride of place in front of the open fire.
For about a year, Mr Donnelly lodged with us. He was a friend of Dad's from work but had experienced bad bombing in Liverpool so came to stay with us. He did some accounts work and would sometimes explain fractions or percentages to me. When he was in a good mood he would ask if he could play our piano, mostly classical music. He played really well. Often Dad and him would play billiards or snooker together on our small billiard table at home. This was a past time both enjoyed. One night, we got a knock on our door. The Air Raid Patrol warden was there, saying we were showing a light. Dad was very particular about our shutters so asked the ARP warden to show him this light. Dad followed the warden and Mr Donnelly followed too. The warden could not really show Dad this light. It was only possible if you lent against the wall to show a little slit. Mr Donnelly was cross about Dad being accused of a light as he knew how fussy he always was. So Mr Donnelly got angry and said, "Do you call that a light?" and spontaneously hit the warden on his helmet with his billiard cue. Of course later, Dad and Mr Donnelly had to appear in court accused of assault. Dad was very upset as he was not to blame and Mr Donnelly had to pay a fine. He was in the Mercury and was made a lot of.
As the war was coming to a close, so our spirits began to rise. Hopefully Bob would return unscathed (and he did) and Eileen would not have to work so hard, tending to the injured soldiers in her care. She met a Canadian (Eddie) she liked a great deal but later found out he was married. This was so hard for her to accept as he hadn't told her. A friend told her just before he returned to Canada I really think she loved him a lot and married Frank later in order to get a home of her own - not easy though, as Frank was much older and had been married before with two grown up daughters. Eileen met Frank because she was a great friend of his eldest daughter, and later they went Old Time Dancing together.
When peace came we did go up to London for the V.E. celebrations. Also there were street' parties and every road in Hertford was decorated. Children had great street parties which included a small piece of ice cream each. Tents were put up at the top of Foxholes Avenue and there was a massive bonfire which everyone danced around. Only the year before us children had found many soldiers sheltering in the gravel pits before D-Day. Imagine our surprise when 'these trees' moved and we saw so many Yankee soldiers hidden there in the sandpits. What a shock and great surprise.
They gave us drinking chocolate, gum and some chocolate. All this was so exciting but not so much as when the War was over. We went to see 'Perchance to Dream' with lvor Novello taking the lead – Mum and Dad, Bob and Squib, Uncle Walter and I. He treated us
to a box and a lovely meal out with a Hungarian playing his violin in Lyons Corner House Brasseie. What a great memory this was. I'd never been in a box in the theatre before. It was very grand and I well remember it.
When V.J. Day came, we were in Newport, South Wales staying with Uncle Walter. Again, more street parties and a big celebration for everyone. So much gloom and doom before, now maybe some pleasure.
The weddings in the family had helped as these were really good times. I remember dear Percy (Rosie's husband) had too much to drink at Bob's wedding. He ended up, lying in the bath. Louie and Eileen somehow decorated him with blue ribbons on each of his toes. I had to go out early to buy aspirins for him (and others) but in all this, I never saw my dad drunk. He had more sense. So many golden days full of memories and happy times spent together.
I used to dread May time, rook shooting season. I was expected to help pick up the dead or nearly dead birds. Dad was a good marksman so I was always busy. Sometimes I had to hit their heads against the tree trunks. One night there was a rustle behind me and there was an animal sitting beside me which I didn't recognise. I called my dad. It was a wallaby. I was scared. We took the rooks home later and shared them out. Eight breasts would make a lovely rook pie. Delicious to eat, but not how we acquired them. We always ended up at the pub & I had my crisps and ginger wine. In some respects, Dad liked me to act like a boy. For my reward that night for being so scared, he noticed something move in the tall grass. It was a baby rabbit. We brought it home and I had it as a pet until it burrowed its way out of the hutch.
I would always say Mum and Dad gave us many good examples to live by. I hope I haven't let them down too much. Dad was keen for me to learn as much as possible and would take an interest in my homework. He would sometimes check my arithmetic but was mystified with my algebra which I truly loved at the time. He always said, "Do your best," and I tried to do that. Mum would say, "Don't make her do so much, she is only a girl." Dad replied, "She should have her chance, if she has the ability we should encourage her."
So the war was over and I was soon to leave my beloved Central School in June 1947. Before I left, male teachers returned to the school and this was a pleasant interlude as they had much to tell us. I remember in particular, Mr Hitchock when he came back from the war as he would sit with us at lunch time under the trees in the school grounds, telling us about France and life out there before the war, (he was to become the French teacher at the school). Somehow, he gave me a desire to travel and see what was on the other side of the channel. Remember there were no package holidays or many civilian air flights. You assumed people were rich to travel. I can remember going home to talk to Mum about wanting to travel to Europe. She couldn't understand my desire to do this, and neither could I understand her acceptance of her narrow life at home with Dad and I. She was content, which I didn't appreciate at the time. But I loved listening about the tales about France and other countries. You must remember books were limited just after the war and there was no T.V. For ordinary families. But these talks inspired me to want to find out for myself. I did, but much later (in 1961, my first trip to Italy with John, Dad and stepmother
Margaret.)
When I left school aged 14, I joined Herts Executive Council in June 1947, leaving school on the Friday and starting work on the Monday, working as a Junior Clerk at £1.9.6d per week, 9 am - 5.15 pm and 9 -.12 on Saturdays. At 15, I would get £1.11.6d.
Mr Braybrooke, my Headmaster, offered me this job as I was one of his favourites. This was because I enjoyed History, his lesson. I wondered what my working life would be like. I did not have long to wait to find out!
Hurriedly I needed some clothes for working in an office. I mostly only had my school uniform so I needed a skirt, several blouses and a smart black pair of shoes (not lace ups I had worn for school). Mum said she would help me get a small wardrobe together if I paid her 18/- a week for my board, 5/- per week I agreed to save and I needed money for the tea fund at work. In the end, I had about 5/- to buy everything else like chemist items, e.g. shampoo and minor things like stockings. I decided to bike to work every day and so I started WORK. My earliest treat I can remember was going on a Friday (pay day) and getting peach melba at the Coop Ice Cream parlour in Fore Street for 6d.
How I looked forward to this luxury. My dear friend Sheelah would come round on Monday evenings. Mum and Dad tended to go out for a drink. Sheelah and I would listen to the radio, "Monday Night at 8" coming from the Starlight Room in Paris. We were both enchanted with this. The thought of it coming from Europe was great to us. Our world was so narrow at that time. One night, for fun, we decided to dress up in Mum and Dad's clothes and went out to an off licence. I even wore my Mum's fur coat and Sheelah got into Dad's clothes. It was just a dare devil thing to do. They didn't find out. Sometimes we'd go out on long bike rides in the summer as we hadn't long had these utility bikes. Mine cost £9-16s- 9d and was bought because Dad had compensation for his injury at work (NALGO got an award of £300 in 1943.) A lot of cash then.
Mum & Dad always were kind, supportive & encouraging in all we ever did. Dad was fair but could be strict, Mum was helpful to everyone & lived in a cloistered way in some respects. I always remember asking her who would she vote for in the General Election immediately after the War. She said, “I'll vote as your Dad tells me to.” This to me was terrible as so much suffering had gone on to give women the vote. Women in these times were expected to be housewives apart from in war time when many worked in factories or did jobs “the men” used to do. Thus this started women's emancipation & independence. in their own right. Long may it continue, so future generations can benefit.