U3A Writing: War Memories
Eveline Holroyd remembers being in a cinema during the war years when a message was flashed onto the screen. "There is an air raid warning. The sirens have gone. You may stay or leave the cinema as you wish.''
During the war we lived a train ride from Grandma’s, but as she was ill Mum and I went to visit her, leaving Dad at home. My cousin Dorothy and I went to the pictures near Belle Vue, Manchester, quite a way from Grandma’s.
I can’t remember the name of the film, but I do remember that a message was flashed on the screen: “There is an air raid warning. The sirens have gone. You may stay or leave the cinema as you wish.” We decided to stay as we were quite a way from home.
The film progressed and then, just as a man on the screen was peering through a window from outside seeing if the coast was clear to burgle, came another message underneath: “All clear.” The sirens had gone for all clear. These cheered up everybody, and we had a good laugh, even though it was a serious film.
On the way home wardens tried to get us to go into shelters along the way as the sirens went again. I remember we ran and said each time, “We only live round the corner.” We wanted to get home, knowing our mums would be worried. Luckily we got back safely, but I’ve never forgotten that ‘all clear’ message.
But I do remember another bomb which dropped on Pat Martin’s Mill. I was just coming out of one bedroom going into another, and I was literally lifted off my feet and put back again.
During the war I worked as a good’s clerk on the old LNER Railway at the next station to my home station. My fiancé was in India, and I hadn’t heard from him for eight weeks and was getting worried.
I was on duty at work when a passenger train pulled in and I heard my name called. It was a neighbour in the train. I ran out, and he handed me a telegram. This was the quickest way my parents could get this to me as it was a long way by road. I was wary of opening telegrams, but what joy when I did. It read, “Back safely in England. See you soon. All my love, Norman.” I don’t think I did much work that afternoon.
At one time during the war Norman was stationed at Catterick in the Signals, and I was working as a goods clerk at Hazlehead Station near Penistone. One day a wagon was loaded for Catterick Camp and so I asked Charlie, our outside man, if he would put a letter on it. The invoice was attached to the wagon by a sort of huge paper clip, and he put my letter under it along with the invoice.
Norman said he was in the barrack room when he heard a motorbike roar up and stop outside. A dispatch rider came in and asked if Corporal Holroyd was there. Astonished, Norman said yes and was handed my letter. It had been sent up from wherever the wagon was unloaded. We agreed that the Army had a heart.
