Love and War in the WRNS Page 5
Thank you for your note. This will only be a short one too as I have to be back at work shortly.
Yesterday Miss Smith gave a farewell party to all the Wrens at Mayfield. It really was great fun and we all enjoyed it immensely. There were about 80/90 people there. We danced, played games, and ate and ate, and really made merry. I met a girl I used to know at Rosyth who’s up at the Unicorn as C.P.O. [Chief Petty Officer]. She’s rather nice, and we are going to the flicks next week. The party lasted till about 10.30 and then we had to clean up. There were apple cores all over the place – we’d had community singing, which was most rowdy, and when we danced you couldn’t possibly hear the gramophone. Miss Smith made a farewell speech – very nicely and we all gave her a present, a rather lovely pig skin jewel case, which she seemed to like. In her confusion she forgot to introduce Miss Overy, but most people know her so it’s all right.
I really think I’m being drafted here which I shall like. Apparently the Chief Officer fixed up about me on Sunday when she came over. Miss Overy is rather nice, a little abrupt but I expect that’s because she’s shy. I shan’t be getting any uniform for ages I expect so may need some more clothes. I’d like my little check jacket (blue) to wear with an odd shirt and my tartan skirt if it can be shortened. It seems dreadful having all these clothes but uniform is so short. (scarce!) I’m terribly worried about stockings because you can’t buy any here and mine are all dying fast.
Tonight I’m going out to the flicks with my Dutch officer. He wrote me a dear little note which he gave to the Baron to give to Joy to give to me. Joy had been taken off the Baron’s room and met him running round the corridors flicking the note about terribly worried in case he should miss her. I’m being met at the main door in a taxi.
We had squad drill yesterday: several Dutchmen were playing golf which made things perilous. Then it poured with rain and we all got soaked. This afternoon I’m going to play in a hockey practice. There’s a match tomorrow, and if I play well, I may play.
Joy has been given this weekend off and so we are planning to go across the ferry to Newport on Sunday afternoon. They say it’s a lovely place and very good for walking. We think we’ll go to Tay Port, get a motor boat ferry back to Broughty Ferry and then home. It should be rather fun I think.
I’ve been working very hard lately ...
I really shall have to fly now. Otherwise I’ll be late for work. Which would be bad. Please write soon.
Lots and lots of love to you and Daddy
Sheila
Air raids seem to have been a common occurrence and someone was killed nearby as a result of a huge bomb:
In the middle of the night – 3.30 to be exact, we had an air raid warning. We went down to the cellar and discovered a bed put there for Red Cross purposes. This we bagged and fitted together like spoons, were fairly comfortable. I might have gone to sleep, only all the other Wrens, hearty as they are, would sing very loudly, so you can imagine how ghastly it was! We were there for two hours.
This bed becomes a habit, and they end up managing to sleep ‘end to end’. Joy’s Dutchman, Welter, gives them chocolates to munch in the darkness. Nevertheless, she is afraid: ‘I hate being below ground for fear of being buried, but Mayfield is a huge building and certainly wouldn’t fall down like a pack of cards.’ One such air raid almost spoiled Sheila’s date with her Dutch officer:
Mayfield Hostel,
Arbroath Road,
Dundee
3.11.40
My dear Mummy –
… did I tell you about going out with the Dutchman with an unpronounceable name? Just as I was getting ready, the sirens went so downstairs I tripped with all the rest. 3/4 hr later a head peered round the door and I realised the Dutchman had been waiting all the while, plus taxi, expecting me still to appear. So I dashed out, with guns nattering and bombs dropping, and we went to the pictures. When I got back Chapman had been rather worried because no one had any idea of where I was. It never occurred to me that they were all sitting in the cellar thinking my last hour had come! He’s going off on patrol tomorrow, hope everything is all right.
Yesterday I was to have played in a hockey match. In fact we drove off in fine style in a Naval lorry, but it came on to pour with rain. The other side, however, insisted on playing, and we got soaked to the skin – literally. We only played half-time, but I had to take my skirt and jumper off and come home in undies and a coat I was so wet. My clothes aren’t properly dry yet! We felt so miserable that Joy and Chapman and I went into town and had an enormous high tea!
This morning Joy and I were both free so we took a bus to Broughty Ferry and walked on the beach. We went in some forbidden part and had soldiers chasing us off! In the afternoon we collected another Wren, Eleanor Sherwen, whose father is a vicar in Cumberland and knows the Harris’s [where Sheila’s mother was governess], and went across the ferry to Newport. It’s a sweet little place, and the country is very pretty. Joy’s leg is still very painful, so she couldn’t walk far and I had a horrid cold, so we didn’t stay long, but came back to Dundee and had tea. When we got back to Mayfield we saw a new moon, which we bowed to; I went barging into the middle of a service the Wrens were having – the old parson looked so astonished. It’s been a lovely day – but cold. I even wore my long-legged pants, and liked them!
Nothing much happened here of late except that it has got very cold and all my warm clothes are at Dunfermline. I shall send for them tomorrow. I had a letter from Lena, who says she will send me some pears which would be lovely. The food here is excellent – lots of variety and very well cooked.
Joy and I have made up our minds not to be dull, so we are going to the Palais, skating and cinemas as much as we can. We want to try and meet some nice people and have lots of fun. Otherwise things might get us down. We are having lots more English officers here, but they all seem to be terribly snobbish about Wrens. Which is more than the Dutch are: they are very sweet really and I feel very sorry for them.
Miss Smith goes tomorrow and Miss Overy and I take charge. She doesn’t know a lot, and nor do I, but if I try hard I may be able to make a good impression. I’m just longing for gold buttons! and proportionate increase in pay!!
I’ve nearly finished my navy cardigan – I never seem to get much time these days. Any evening we don’t do anything we go straight to bed.
No more now – for I must now do some knitting.
Tons of love
Sheila
Welter, who is Joy’s ‘admirer’, is:
[the] queerest of men – he insisted on buying her a complete set of Elizabeth Arden face things, and when she protested said ‘I will do what I like, don’t try to change me’. He knows she’s married, but still insists on showering gifts upon her. He even wanted to buy her a new pair of shoes because he didn’t like the ones she wears. But Joy stuck at that. We’ve certainly had a good laugh out of poor Welter – he writes the most amusing letters, but doesn’t mean them to be funny of course. We feel so sorry for these Dutchmen – it must be dreadful to be away from home and friends and not even knowing where they are, or whether they are safe.
The only remaining photo of Sheila’s first serious boyfriend, Dutchman Jaap Drijfhout van Hooff
Sheila’s beau is a submarine officer, ‘Jacob (not Jewish) but is shortened to Jaap (Yarp)’ Drijfhout, who is musical and dances – and skates – ‘extremely well’. He is often on patrol, and Sheila worries about his safe return as German U-boats are patrolling the North Sea. For Christmas 1940 he gave her ‘a lovely original etching of 3 Scotties [dogs] and I have it on my dressing table’. I still have this etching today.
So life settles into a routine of girliness, work, hockey, little excursions, the ‘flicks’, tea and going out with the Dutchmen:
Dundee
17.10
… Up at the crack of dawn again today for work at 7. This afternoon as I told you, we went to play hockey against the crew of a ship in harbour. And we had great fun. I really wasn’t too bad as I
hadn’t played for years. Then we went down to the dockyard and boarded a drifter which took us to the ship for tea. This was terrific fun, but sad to say I only had French knickers on, so had to be terribly careful! When walking up and down ladders I sandwiched myself between two knowing Wrens, so hope all was ok. We had tea with the team and a marvellous one it was too. There was a friendly coxswain who was most amusing. And we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I’ve never seen such a spread since I came up here. Well, we demolished a good part of it, and then were shown round the ship – I can’t tell you what it was for obvious reasons, but it was very remarkable. We went into the galley, the crew’s quarters, captain’s quarters, quarterdeck, bridge, boiler rooms and everywhere and had a very jolly time. The men were so nice and friendly, and are going to ask us over again if possible, to dance and play pingpong. We then sailed back on the drifter. The coxswain was terribly funny. He insisted on calling ‘all Wrens muster on deck’ all over the ship or blowing a whistle because he said he’d never shouted for Wrens before.
H.M.S. Ambrose
133 Ferry Road
Caroline Port
Dundee
25.10
Joy and I spend most of our spare time in our room, which is very large. We keep a supply of biscuits which are kept crisp by putting them on the radiator. Grand idea! A girl has just come in and brought me my tea, it’s only twenty to three, but I dare say I’ll like it – it’s rather fun really, sitting here, and making out passes and shoe cleaning vouchers, and having people coming to ask.
… I tried on a Wren hat this morning and looked pretty terrible. McRobbie wears a jack tar’s hat – the little round affair – and it looks so nice. I tried hers on and it looked awfully nice. I do wish all Wrens were allowed to wear them – but I expect they’re too skittish.
Tonight I’m going to see ‘Gone with the Wind’ which is on up here. I’ve got to have a special pass to go, because it doesn’t end till past 11 and we’re supposed to be in at 10! Terrible isn’t it? And only 2 late passes a week. I’d rather like to live in approved lodgings because you can be in when you please, and even get out of uniform when off duty. That would be much nicer.
Mayfield
7.11.40
Joy and I are going to give ourselves egg packs tonight. Joy went down to the kitchen to get the eggs, and met Welter, who at once twigged, so he asked for the eggs to be put on his mess bill, and so we’ve got two lovely brown ones for the pack. Rather a waste these days, really we get plenty of eggs really, boiled and scrambled for breakfast, but never butter, always margarine. Will have to go into the bathroom for the packs – the new girl would just pass out if she saw us!
H.M.S Ambrose
18.12.40
We have started having dancing lessons at Mayfield: some girl has kindly offered to teach the Wrens and we had our first lesson last night, and I relearnt the waltz and the foxtrot! Also some Scottish country dancing which was rather fun. So when I went out with Jaap and we went to the Palais, I was well practised. It was rather amusing; he thought I’d be most annoyed at the suggestion, but I’d always had a hankering to see what the Palais was like, and was pleased to go. He dances very well indeed. Extremely well.
Also 18.12
Have been terribly busy lately, hence scarcity of mail. Went out with Jaap last night. Last time for 2 weeks I’m afraid. He’s nice. We wined and dined and went to the Palais! Good band and floor.
Spent all Saturday with Elizabeth [Clayhill] and Uncle Charles who were so nice. I’m meeting E. tonight. She’s going to try and find a nice family to take me in as p.g. when I have to leave Mayfield. There are nearly 100 N.O.s [Naval Officers] here at the moment. Oh boy!!
Mayfield Hostel
Arbroath Road
Dundee
20.12
On Wednesday I went to see ‘It’s a Date’ with Deanna Durbin and Elizabeth came too. She’s been very kind and written off to the Bishop’s wife about me and also to some people called Pilcher who do a great deal of entertaining in Dundee, especially the Dutch officers, and asked them to look me up whilst she’s away. Also a Lady Wedderburn Ogilvy who lives at Alyth is going to ask me out for a whole day later on. People are most kind if they all remember me!
I’ve sent Elizabeth a big box of Morny bath powder – French Fern – and hope she likes it. She won’t be back until the middle of January. I’m trying to arrange for us to go to our dance together in a party. Jaap says he’d love to come if he’s not on patrol and so he might be able to find a friend to go with Elizabeth.
Life also improves on the work front, although she finds working for Miss Overy rather a trial:
Miss Overy and I sit opposite each other, firing questions and getting into terrible muddles, but things seems to work out all right in the end. We neither of us know a lot, but at present, I think I take the cake! McRobbie [their predecessor] came over the other day, very disgruntled because she’s been ordered to wear an ordinary hat, and not her little sailor’s cap. She asked me how we were getting on ‘oh, going from mess to mess, you know’. She was furious. ‘We thought we left everything in perfect order’ she said. If she only knew – we find out 3 or 4 mistakes of theirs everyday.
Miss Overy seems to be looking out for Sheila, asking when she will be 21: ‘I wonder if this means a commission in view?’ More importantly she gives Sheila her first taste of working for the navy proper, on board a battleship:
Great thrill: I’m to be the writer to go on board the ship that put in here requiring someone to do secretarial work … Miss Overy daren’t send me full time in case I was withdrawn by Rosyth on the grounds that I haven’t enough work to do … So I’m to go down in the afternoon from 2–5, as they need me. It will be tremendous fun working on board a real ship – especially one I’ve heard about. I wonder when I’ll start. I shall be furious if they suddenly find they can manage without a writer – it would be just my luck!
This experience is to inspire her for the rest of her naval career:
Mayfield
18.11.40
Dear Mummy –
I’ve had such a good day I must write and tell you about it – but one long rush as usual I’m afraid. I got to work this morning to find the ship wanted me this afternoon. Great thrill. So after lunch I dashed down to Unicorn to be told where to go. Unicorn is a very old ship, like the Victory, the other naval establishment here. It’s marvellous on board old beams and what not – I’d love to work there. Everyone was so nice to me – even the Sub-Lieutenant who gave me my pass and sub-Lieuts are often so hoity-toity. So I rushed off to the decks with my pass to go on board. One of the Dutch submarines was in – I hope it’s the one my Dutchman is on. However to return to the B.S. (the ship!). It had been struck by a sound mine and very badly damaged, so has been brought here for repairs. Everyone was expecting me and an office had been rigged up in the Wardroom. I had to run up and down companion ways so was glad I’d got on my passion-killers! An awfully nice Warrant Officer was in charge when I arrived – a dear little man, and so helpful – tho’ hopeless seated at the typewriter! Then there was an awfully nice rating, definitely public school etc. who was a great help. So between us we got some work done. Apparently a sentry had accidentally shot another one, and there’s been a hell of a row about it and its made much work for them all. Commander Anderson, the Captain, came in and was so nice. He apologised for the state of the ship, as it really is in rather a mess, but I didn’t mind. Apparently he was a very leading light at Dunkirk, but no notice was taken of him at all. I may have to do my work on Unicorn later on, as he think’s it’s too cold for me on board, but I hope not. The B.S. was in an amazing state – she’s only 9 months old, and everything was absolutely of the latest type. The mine had cracked the iron (or steel) castings and buckled them in places, so that it will have to be almost entirely reconstructed. Five men were hurt, 4 with broken ankles and one badly scalded as he was making a cup of tea. You’d like it on board mummy, for they use nothing but tin
ned milk and brown sugar … I love it. My nice little W/O was struck over the eye – next time I go he’s going to take me to see the engines, but really the whole ship’s in such a mess. I do wish Wrens were allowed on board on patrol – it would be marvellous and would cheer up both parties. I can’t get over how polite and nice everyone was – after six weeks in the Wrens I’ve got used to being treated as a rating. The whole atmosphere was so nice – the officers and men got on so well and there was no sort of ‘barrier’. Of course, it’s only a little ship, really – so I suppose it makes a difference. But she’s very important and did a lot of good work at Norway in April. I shall be dreadfully sorry when their writer comes back. Oh how I wish I could be a sailor and go aboard on patrol – it would be so much nicer than being ashore. I do think they ought to have Wrens aboard. Still, I’m really very lucky, for lots of Wrens have never even been inside a ship. The Unicorn people were very jealous. I’ve hardly told a soul here – it might create a bad feeling. I believe I’m going again on Wednesday, but don’t know yet. Miss Overy may not want to spare me.
…We are busy kitting at the moment – my second suit is going to be a size smaller! I insisted! I may not get all my kit by Christmas tho’ as the demand hasn’t been put through yet.
Please don’t tell people about this ship, and why it is here etc. It doesn’t matter saying I’m working on board, but please don’t tell anyone anything else as you never know! I don’t really think I’ve said anything I ought not to, but you can’t be too careful.