I mentioned in our blog on Villa Roquette that my Mum has dusted off her diaries from 1938 and is writing her life history form the details, memories they trigger and her photos.
From 1938 to 1945 she went from a schoolgirl in the Masonic school at Rickmansworth – to getting married to my Father in Palestine when she was a petty officer in the Womens Royal Naval Service (WRNS)-
Pamela
I plan to put her notes in a blog, with her photos of the time, from school – the land army – joining the Royal Navy – posted to Egypt and Palestine, working on coding and communications, avoiding submarines and the life of a young girl in the war.
Some things are hard to imagine – helping in hospitals putting cigarettes into a hole in a head bandage of someone completely burnt in tank warfare so they could “have a puff” - missing a troop ship to which as torpedoed and lost – getting secure signals of Naval actions (the sinking of the Bismark, she was one of the first people to ever hear the news).
Pamela in Palestine
I will try to serialise this and select some photos and help her make a blog – it is living history
can’t wait to read the story… the photographs are great, but wouldn’t have recognized Pam… she is so beautiful!! But her eyes are more “smiley” now…
Looking forward to your info and blogs. About 10yrs. ago I rented a home in Aniane
west of Montpellier. It was a delightful month living like a “native” and touring.
The photos of your mother are lovely. I will keep up with the series.
Au revoir,
Sandy