Violet
As her Father was a soldier, stationed at Shoeburyness Garrison, Violet was born in the local military hospital (now a pub) and christened at the Garrison Chapel.
Violet was almost 6 when WWII broke out in 1939 and she remembers recognising the importance of the news and feeling like people needed to know, so she went around telling everyone that the war had begun.
Violet remembers travelling to Warwickshire with her Mum to visit the Brother of her Mum’s friend, who had two young daughters. As Violet played with the girls, her Mum said that she could stay the night and promised to come back the next day, but she didn’t return - Violet had been surreptitiously evacuated.
After some time, Violet went to live with an Aunt in Maidstone and she remembers feeling safe in her Uncle’s arms, as he would carry her to the shelter during air raids.
Following this, Violet had a stay in hertfordshire and then two years with an Aunt in St Albans, where she attended Garden Fields school and remembers finally feeling settled.
When Violet’s Dad finally returned after six years, having been a prisoner of war, she did not recognise him…
Please note: This interview refers to war-time incidents that some listeners may find upsetting.
Don’t do it Mother issued by the Ministry of Health. IWM Non Commerical Licence
After the war, the only accommodation that Violet’s Mum could find in Shoeburyness was a small cottage which had no sanitation or electricity, but it was home, and they made the best of it with candles for light and a fire for warmth. Violet remembers the worst part being the toilet, which was a bucket that was only emptied once a week.
As a girl, Violet liked Fry’s Five Boys Chocolate. Each picture of the boy had a different facial expression, with the words: “Desperation, Pacification, Expectation, Acclamation, and Realisation, IT’S FRY’S”. Image within the Public Domain
Violet in one of her favourite rooms
Violet’s Father was stationed as a soldier at Shoeburyness Garrison and so Violet was born in the military hospital (which is now The Old Garrison pub on Campfield Road) and Christened at the Garrison Chapel. Shoebury Garrison is now a residential estate.
In 1941 at the age of 8, Violet went to live with her aunt in Alban Avenue, St Albans. The stay lasted two years and Violet remembers finally feeling settled and having fun making mud pies with her friend Rosemary Stovall, who lived in the same street. Violet became very fond of St Albans and revisited the town 11 years later on Sunday 20th July 1952 at the age of 18. Little did she know that Queen Elizabeth II was also visiting that day and Violet found herself standing just a few yards from the recently crowned monarch and the first reigning monarch to attend evensong at St Albans Abbey for 500 years!
When Violet’s Dad finally returned after six years, having been a prisoner of war, she did not recognise him.
