History: Wartime Plymouth Devon England

I joined the Girl's Training Core in 1940 and my good friend was Ruby Jewel. We belonged to it for 3 years and used to walk together to the Hall at Milehouse where it was held. Often, we had to shelter from the air raids by running into the house of someone unknown. I worked for J. D. Drake's at Number 10 Portland Square for 2 years until 1943. When Portland Square was bombed in 1943, there was very little left of Number 10. John Drake, the son of J. Dee (Drake), came and helped me to clear up the damage. The Drake family lived at Crapstone -- I visited them there when Mr. Drake Sr. was very ill. Sadly, he died soon after this visit. In 1944, I went to work at Parade Printing Works on Southside Street in Plymouth. The owners of the business, Mr. and Mrs. George and Phyllis Gilbert, were like second parents to me.

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