1941 was to be a bad year for the British army. The war in the desert hotted up with the arrival of Rommel and the Afrika Korps, followed by the invasions and subsequent losses of Greece and Crete, and the surrender of Yugoslavia. By August, Russia had joined the war and, by December, so had the US, following the bombing of Pearl Harbour.
It must have been frustrating for Sheila to be part of the war machine but to feel so helpless. She has not even received her uniform yet! She is unhappy about the lack of any clear pathway to a commission – aside from attaining the age of 21 – a theme that recurs constantly through the coming year.
Dundee, where she moved in October, is pleasant enough, and she has her Dutchman for company, plus boyfriend Paul, who is on convoy duty aboard HMS Sheffield. Nevertheless she is hankering for adventure and begins to show leadership qualities that will stand her in good stead when the time comes for promotions.
Letters – and sometimes the lack of them – continue to be central to her life.
The new year starts well with the New Year’s Eve party (it seems Jaap didn’t make it in time) and home leave to look forward to, despite a spat with sister Rosemary. This must have been after she wrote the friendly New Year’s Day letter, although Rosemary’s Christmas present is dammed with faint praise:
Mayfield
1.1.41
My dear R.
Many many thanks for the lovely sweater and also for the stockings which shouldn’t excite the roving eye of the Navy too much. So sorry not to have written before; believe me I’ve been up to my eyes in work.
Thank you also for your note – I had EIGHT letters that day! One of them was from Walter Frisler, a nice Canadian Capt. we met at the O.S. who wrote to me. Remember, a tan face and good looking. Also one from Elizabeth Clayhill’s uncle, signed ‘Charles’. He’s 74! Most improper.
Well – so glad you had a great Xmas. I ate much too much, in fact had about 5 Xmas dinners to be exact! I got up at 8 and went to Kirk and then again at 9.20. Then I went to work, only to be caught under the mistletoe by 2 Sub-Lieuts! Most annoying. Then a huge dinner; then a huge party, Xmas tree and presents given by the Capt and wife, then tea, then dancing reels etc. and then out to supper! I staggered home.
Meanwhile we had to arrange various invitations for the Wrens, one, sometimes 2 every day. I went to one dance and won a spot prize with the Chief Writer based at the Base.
I went to Arbroath for the weekend and stayed in a house. They were so kind. C of S [Church of Scotland] and we had breakfast in bed and a grand time. That night Ambrose gave a N. Year’s Ball (officers only) and I went in a party with Steer and 5 or 6 other officers. It was fun, we drank the N Year in with rum punch. Lovely. I wore my black and I let it out and put stiff lace (Woolworths!) round the top and everyone admired it! Steer was rather a stick, but we had a grand time. One of the Sub-Lieuts got very tight. Most amusing.
Woke up this am to find snow on the ground, very hard and crackly. Simply lovely. I’ve been working all day. We had a 5 min siren at 1.30 but nothing happened.
Jaap came back at lunch time and has asked me out to dinner tomorrow night. He gave me an adorable etching of 3 Scotties (original) + it stands on my dressing table. Chapman has been most curious.
Am furious, why am I not just a little older. Miss Overy is sending up names for commissions and said if I had been old enough she would have sent mine. Nine b-y months to wait! My work is terribly responsible in a way. Wish they’d give me Wrens buttons of a sort. I’ve got to M.C. a Whist Drive tonight as everyone is going to be out. I don’t believe anyone will be there much tho’.
All the shops are shut today and tomorrow. Pay day on Friday, thank heavens. The uniform has arrived so shall appear in it when on leave, but haven’t got it yet. Don’t know when I’m coming, haven’t heard a word from Paul, but Miss O. says I can have it when I like under the circs, which is good, I think.
Am expecting to be told to have my hair cut soon. It really does (ahem) look awfully nice now – long page boy sometimes tied in a bow, but I don’t think Penman will have much mercy on it!
We have to be inspected before we’re allowed to appear in the street.
… Please, if you will, send this letter on to Mama, as I’ve been so busy lately and haven’t had much time to write.
Really must away to this whist drive.
Heaps of love
Sheila,
Hope you are safe and OK.
Mayfield
3.1.41
My Dear Mummy,
… No time for a proper letter as I only have 10 mins. About this leave. R. says she is coming from the 9th to the 18th but I had such a rude postcard from her yesterday I don’t feel at all inclined to come whilst she is there at all! Miss Overy says I can go whenever I like now. I could come from the 9th or part of the following week, but then I should miss Paul, whom I haven’t heard from since. In fact I’m wondering whether it is worth while waiting as the Navy is so unsure, but in a way it seems a pity to miss him after so long. I went out with Jaap last night, who is going on leave on Friday (today I think) and seemed disappointed because I wasn’t going on leave, for it’s a shame. I don’t think he has anywhere to go and is so nice. I’ll probably ring up on Sunday night when you will have got this and we can have a discussion. The mails are very bad as regards ships, but I rather feel that Paul may soon be here as I haven’t heard for about 3 weeks. We shall see …
Heaps of love
Sheila
Had 8 letters on Monday!
The next letter is dated 22 January, so we assume she went on leave as planned around 9 January; history doesn’t relate the whereabouts of sister Rosemary. On her return she is rushed into preparations for the Wrens’ Club dance, which she is organising – ‘tons to do’ – and to the welcome arrival of her uniform, although her hair is problematic:
I’ve really got quite a nice hat – smallish but my raincoat nearly touches the ground – shows up the shortness of my costume skirt. We measured it last night – it’s 18” – so I expect someone will have something to say about it! I spent ages putting on my collar and tie and ruined one collar, and expect I’ll have to be inspected tonight ready for wear tomorrow. The Chief Officer Rosyth is inspecting us on Friday when she comes to the dance – so it’s just as well I’ve got my uniform … Heaven knows what I’m going to do with my hair. It seems to be getting longer and longer and I look terrible in a hat with it tied back –
… everyone seems to think I look quite nice – except for the hat! The shoes are terribly uncomfortable, but are beginning to look a little better now. By the way, I’d love another shirt size 14 or 14 1/2 (my linen ones are 14 1/2 but I thought perhaps 14 man’s size would be big enough) as you said you’d like to get me one? They have only given me three, and I really need four I think. Anyway, I’d be absolutely pleased with one. My collars are too big, I think, but am told they shrink.
26.1
… I’ve not had my hair cut – it’s in a net and looking quite tidy. I will not have it cut and have been OK so far, but got told quite a thick pair of silk stockings were too thin! I was very annoyed.
This is tempered by the unwelcome news that Jaap is off on patrol again and her one remaining friend, Chapman – who never seems to have a first name, perhaps because she was the Chief Petty Officer – is being commissioned shortly ‘so there won’t be anyone for me to talk to at all’.
However the dance was a ‘great success’ and she thanks her mother for sending her the ‘frock, which everyone admired. I really must send a parcel of civvies home soon, I’ve got many too many clothes’:
Mayfield Hostel
26.1.41
My dear Mummy –
… Several of us went there early to see that things were OK – there were tons of people there – really too crowded – and many too many Wrens of course. I met several Polish officers who were quite nice, but as soon as I was getting on nicely Miss Overy came to ask me to do things which was annoying. My mainstay, however, was Lt-Com Cowell, the senior engineer, whom I’d met at the Pilchers. He rescued me and was most amusing. About half my size incidentally! In the end I arranged for him and Osborne (Guns; a darling old 62 year old fellow) to come home in our bus to Mayfield and they made the whole show. Actually I’ve just had the most terrific row with one of the Wrens who said it kept the ratings off the bus to have them but I arranged it all and they paid for their tickets so I just let fly at her. She’s been honey ever since. One of the Wrens got so tight she had to be taken home, and another violently sick! Mrs Boyd, Chief Officer at Rosyth, was there. I’d met her before and had to take her from Orphanage to Mayfield which was a good opportunity to talk to her. They are wanting cypher officers urgently and I hoped if I made a good impression they might take me on before I’m 21 but I don’t know. Miss Overy said the other day she hoped for my sake the war would carry on a bit longer so that I could go to OTC Greenwich!
… I had a letter from Rosemary the other day, but haven’t had a moment to answer it yet. Yours was the only letter I’ve been able to write this week.
It’s thawed terribly here and everywhere’s in a terrible mess. We’ve had 2 raid warnings during the last 2 days and we’ve all got to pass through the gas chamber and wear our gas masks for 1/2 hour every day! Heavens!
Please send me my nail brush! I’m lost without it.
Heavens – nearly tea time!
Heaps of love to you both.
Sheila
Meanwhile life in Dundee continues, despite reminders of the war from the air raids: Wrens’ Club, hair, shoes, uniform, work, hopes of weekends away to alleviate the routine and, of course, grumbles about commissions and some good middle-class sanctimony:
Mayfield
28.1.41
My dear Mummy –
There’s really not much news, but I’m just writing to thank you for your letter which on rereading, I have just been able to decipher!
I think I’ll start by telling you that it is frightfully cold and does nothing but sleet the whole time. My shoes are damned uncomfortable (I’ve had to put plasters on my heels) and they squeak.
I’ve written to Roddy asking if I may go there this weekend, but of course haven’t heard yet. I hope she will be able to have me. I shan’t be able to go down till Saturday afternoon, but may be able to stay till Monday morning.
I went to a marvellous Naval talk on the war on Sunday night. I very much enjoyed it and met dear old Lieut. Osborne as I was coming out. We always seem to be bumping into one another. There has been a hell of a row over that girl who got tight, but I believe she’s not going to be derated. They certainly don’t do it to the ratings, but anyway I think it was horrid of her. Apparently most of the stewards here get as drunk as lords. Isn’t it filthy?
… I still have great difficulty putting on my collar and tie. I always seem to get it bent somehow. There’s going to be a parade through the streets on Saturday in connection with War Weapons Week, and they want some Wrens to be there, but thank heavens I’ll be away, anyway I hope so!
I even wore lisle stockings yesterday! They didn’t look too bad. It’s just heaven to get into comfy shoes at the end of the day tho’.
Apparently there is a new rule that Wrens may be promoted at 20 1/2, only providing they’ve been in service over a year, so that doesn’t include me – I’ll be 21 first …
Well I must stop, as it’s nearly time to go off again. To hell with this wet – you should see the mud!
Heaps of love to you and Daddy
Sheila
Sheila’s sprits are raised by hopes of being billeted out and a visit to stay with Roddy, her grand friend who is living in a house in Dundas Castle grounds. Jaap comes back from patrol, and ‘unfortunately I have no late pass and have to go out in uniform which he hasn’t seen yet, so it will be a bit of a shock’. Mother is still coming up trumps on the parcel front:
Mayfield
3.2.41
My dear Mama,
Thank you so much for your letter and parcel with the shoes, stamps, nail brush etc. The shoes have been much admired and needless to say the stamps are marvellous.
Oh I’ve had such a good weekend. I went down to Dalmeny on Sat afternoon and Roddy met me plus bikes. It poured with snow tho’. Chapel Acre is really lovely. On the side of a hill looking towards the Firth and all country around. It’s most beautiful and Roddy and I shared her room together. She’s just the same; great fun. We went for a heavenly walk in the sun on Sunday and found a large loch completely covered with ice. So after lunch we went off skating and had a marvellous time. We had it all to ourselves too which was lovely. I got quite brave and went backward and did all kinds of tricks but not as well as Roddy who is very good. I am going away there in a fortnight’s time.
I rang up Mrs Mackey re today and I am going there very soon I think. She seems a dear and I think I shall like it very much.
… A 14 shirt neck with 14 1/2 collar would be big enough I think. Can you get that do you think? I hope so. I really don’t think 13 1/2 shirt would be big enough, tho’ it might if it didn’t shrink. I rather think it might, though.
… The choccies were lovely by the way – where did you get them? Please don’t send me any more. We have a canteen remember.
How are you and Daddy? Well I hope. We’ve had a lot more snow – I’m off to the Naval dentist on Friday. I hear he’s quite gentle! Hope so.
Really must stop and get ready to go out …
With heaps of love
Sheila
The might of the German invasion in North Africa was just beginning to alarm the British and, combined with the continuing air raids, it is not surprising everyone has ‘the wind up’. Nevertheless the mundane still manages to dominate the letters, mainly because it was impossible to mention details of the work she was doing, except that there’s a lot of it:
Mayfield
9.2.41
My dear Mummy
Thank you so much for your letter with the stamps and also the £1 from Daddy with which I was very pleased – Do thank him for me. I also have had the shirt which really is half a size too small so I am going to change it here. Otherwise it is very nice. All my Wren ones have shrunk – most annoying! Did I even thank you for the gloves? They are really awfully nice and I have worn them once.
As you see I haven’t moved yet and I don’t know when I shall. I must really make them decide soon. Actually I think everyone here, too, has the wind up for we have all been through the gas chamber and are having to put fire spotters on the roof in four shifts every night now. But of course that is all under your hat.
I’m rather fed up really because I’ve been working like a black this week.2 I’ve had to attend 2 courts of enquiry and make verbatim reports of each as well as do my ordinary work. Also I had to work yesterday afternoon and this morning and it’s such a lovely day. However, I get paid for the reports at the rate of 6d per 100 words so I shouldn’t do too badly as they were really quite long and took the whole day to do.
I went out with Jaap again on Thursday, but he had a dreadful cold and I was terribly tired after a very busy day, so we didn’t go skating as planned. He has gone off skiing this weekend, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t get any as all the snow has melted again thank heavens. It was terribly thick on Thursday, nearly a foot I should think.
I had a letter from Joy who is still at Greenwich just about to begin her W/J course. I do wish she was still up here – I miss one good friend very much. Actually Chapman has been all over me these last few days. I’m certainly wondering why but she really has been awfully nice.
Oh – (blast – sirens!!!) we had a kit inspection on Thursday and I was told I had many too many civilian clothes – so I shall have to send some home unless of course I move to the Bishop’s tomorrow.
I do wish they would tell me because I don’t want to send my things home and then have them back again.
Well I must stop. I’ve got so many letters to write. Somehow I never seem to get them done these days.
Heaps of love
Sheila
Sheila is never downhearted for long: the men in her life provide good cheer. There is news of Paul, who has been on HMS Sheffield, which had been on convoy with the Ark Royal in the Mediterranean, and Jaap meanwhile provides great company. She even manages to make light of some of the other realities of wartime.
Mayfield
12.2.41
My dear Mummy,
… Well they say you have to experience everything in life once, and I certainly had the shock of my life on Monday, when I saw a creepy-crawly running (or malingering) up my skirt. So away I dashed and washed my hair and clothes – and bolted for sister who examined my head and found nought! However, I caught three more in my clothes and were told they were ‘body lice’ (!!) so we ‘Dettolled’ the room thoroughly (I put all my washed wet clothes and my costume, out on the window coping all night and the dye came out of my stockings on to my shirt and collar and made one hell of a mess) and retired. I had to get up at 1am to do two hours fire spotting. Oh dear it was a game, and we’ve had the room fumigated and scrubbed out with disinfectant – it’s never been so clean since we came here!
Apparently Dundee is alive with such things and you can pick them up in buses or anywhere and they say they always go to the cleanest people! So one up to me! However I’ve treated it as a tremendous joke and am none the worse for my unfortunate adventure.
Anyway, it meant that I was able to go about in civvies all day yesterday. I met Jaap in the morning and he was very intrigued, so I told him the story at length and he said ‘we must go out tonight as you’re in civvies’ so out we went – and had a terrific time. He is a dear. This afternoon he came to bid me farewell in my office as he’s off again, and I watched them sail out later on. Miss Overy has been at Rosyth all day. Provided I appeal to the board of examiners I shall definitely get a commission at 21, unless of course I disgrace myself in the meantime. She asked me whether I’d rather be a cypherer or a secretary when commissioned. I said the former, I never liked secretarial work very much – it’s such a long time to wait though – nearly seven months.
Isn’t it thrilling about the ‘Sheffield’?3 Perhaps it’ll mean Paul will be back soon after such a marvellous performance. They’ve been abroad for five months – I’m sure they ought to come back for boiler cleaning or something quite soon! The wireless account at midday was terrific. Did you hear it?
I’ve just been issued with a greatcoat which is terribly nice and I feel most smart. I’ve only got to adjust the belt at the back and it will be a perfect fit. I changed the shirt at M&S for a 14 1/2 which is very nice; they tend to shrink and I loathe them tight.
Tomorrow I’ve got to attend another board of enquiry – rather a special one, as I’ve got to be there 1/2 hr early to see one of the officers, and they took my full name for some unknown reason. Miss Overy doesn’t know about it yet; she will be furious – but I’ve got a lot of my tomorrow work done. So she can’t really grumble.
With lots and lots of love to you both.
Sheila
Life in the Wrens is one long rollercoaster: now everything is falling apart. She isn’t being billeted and Jaap is leaving ‘going somewhere very secret so must say no more, only how disappointed and sorry I am that he is going as we did have such fun together and things will be very boring for me after next week.’ They are trying to arrange a final evening before he goes, ‘but he has so many farewells to bid that we may not be able’.
However, she has heard that Wrens are being called up for ‘services overseas’. She asks her mother what she thinks: ‘I’d very much like to go ... it would be marvellous to feel one was really doing something.’ She feels her work ‘isn’t so terribly important. Of course it might mean foregoing a commission (if I ever do get one) but I feel the experience would be wonderful.’ She must have felt pretty desperate to consider giving up a commission for going overseas.
She gives vent to her frustration in her next letter:
I am very annoyed. Here I am slaving (!) for my country miles from anywhere and nobody writes to me! I’ve just been haranguing the postman but with no results I’m afraid – I haven’t had a letter since Tuesday. That’s very unusual for me and your last was written six days ago. VERY cross!
In a later letter she writes:
I don’t think your homily to the family did the slightest bit of good – I’ve not heard from one of them, and really, with the little time I get, I don’t feel like starting writing to them all over again, except of course, Granny, who has tons of people to write to. But Aunty Rose and Hazel etc. I don’t think deserve letters as they never write to me, and Aunty Rose never even answered my last letter, written nearly two months ago! Perhaps I’ll send them all Easter cards, just to remind them. Perhaps when you go down south you could enquire into the subject.
In wartime, far from your home and family, letters must have been of paramount importance: those she is complaining about were all civilians, although cousin Hazel was recently married to a naval officer, and obviously were not aware of how the sending and receiving of letters could have such an impact on morale. This whole collection of Sheila’s letters to and from her mother demonstrate this; even her crabby mother understood the need to support her daughter in this way.
Her gloom continues with Jaap’s departure: ‘Jaap has gone … he went on Sunday and strange to relate I never saw him to speak to again. Well, we always said the Dutch were funny – I really believe they are!!’
Rosemary is an easy target for her ire. She feels she should go to the Admiralty or air ministry and ‘sound them out about commissions. It’s no good waiting until the time comes – there wouldn’t be an earthly then.’ Later she has a further swipe at her sister:
I had a letter from Rosemary too, yesterday, telling me about her rise. I have been working things out, she says she gets £3.10.0 a week sheer profit, with upkeep and insurance and income tax paid, I suppose. I get £3.10.0 a month. Still, you know, I manage very well really – I just can’t imagine what I’d do with all that wealth. It would be fabulous ... I wish Rosemary would join up – I wrote and told her she ought and she replied that tho’ she quite saw my point of view (I told her Rome burned while Nero played the fiddle) B+H [Bourne & Hollingsworth] couldn’t possibly get on without her. I do feel that an older person could easily do the job and it’s not essential to the nation’s war effort anyway.
It is not surprising that Rosemary did not want to join up, seeing how well off she was compared to a services salary.
Sadly the call to go overseas does not materialise:
Nothing has come of that Near East rumour. I don’t feel an awful lot of use here (tho’ they couldn’t do without me!) so am wondering if I should ask for a transfer. Might get sent somewhere miles worse tho’! This would be a marvellous place if I had lots of friends.
However, Sheila and Chapman seem to having fun. She ‘dressed’ her for a date with a Dutchman, and they went to supper ‘and had a good chinwag. She is being nice to me – heaven knows, one needs a few pals these days!’ Some people called the Mackenzies have invited her to tea and promise to introduce her to some more people –‘so it should be much better’.
Never one to be downhearted for long, in the same letter (26 February) she writes:
Oh we had such fun yesterday. We went down in the gunnery store and are being taught rifle shooting. Strange to relate, I was very good and got 16 out of 17 rounds on the card with 6 rolls! So you’d best beware not to displease me! We are going every week and hope to get good. Unfortunately the range is very small, only 20 yards so you really can’t help getting them on the card (!) but no one else was at all good. Cockadoodledoo!
Work, however, still has to be done:
I am having a very busy time what with one thing and another, but I’m not terribly fond of my type of work, forever running after people. Tho’ I like being in Dundee. But it’s no good asking for another job in Dundee – I’d never get it and it would put the old girl’s [Overy] back up. So must just wait.
She is – justifiably perhaps – a little miffed when a long-planned weekend away in Perth is cancelled at the last minute:
Mayfield
2.3.41
My dear Mama –
I had arranged to go away for the weekend with another girl to Perth. A message came through from Commander Stack saying I had to attend a confidential enquiry on Saturday am and take shorthand notes. He loathes Miss Overy and would do anything to get a rise out of her. So I had to go and he said it would all be over by 12 am [presumably she means pm]. However, it wasn’t. I spent all Saturday afternoon working and have had to come in this morning (Sunday) and this afternoon to get it all done – so of course I couldn’t go to Perth! Everyone has been very nice about it so I feel quite a martyr, especially as the 2 writers in the secretary’s office have had very little to do and have only been on one at a time the whole weekend! Com. Stack of course, just daren’t look my way, he knows I’m furious and that it’s his fault. Miss Overy says I can have next weekend off, though as she’s got to be here, Miss Penman is away, and Overy is living in, much to our horror.
… Help, I must get a move on as it’s nearly 2 o’clock and I’ve got to rush back to do that report. I expect I’ll be about the only person working in the whole orphanage. Me thinks I deserve an extra stripe for this! But I won’t get it. I was rushing round in Chapman’s coat last night and everyone thought I was a C.D.O. [Command Duty Officer] No such luck!
Sorry this is so dull. Really no news at all. Just work!
Lots of love
Sheila
In mid-May the King and Queen pay a visit to Dundee and inspect the Unicorn: ‘it was great fun and they stopped bang in front of me for quite a while and talked for quite some time’:
15.3
We had several photographs taken for the papers but the one I’ve seen was in Tuesday’s Scotsman of the Queen signing the visitors book. The King was a bit grumpy and wouldn’t let the Queen inspect us as thoroughly as she would have like to have done and speak to us. He was in a terrific hurry and they didn’t even walk up both files. Thus nearly leaving the ship without signing the book – there was a terrific scramble and they signed it just before they left. There were pipes on board with bo’sun’s whistles – a terrible squeak which made us all want to laugh. Miss Overy was terribly thrilled as she had to conduct the Queen round.
❖❖❖
Life continues with a mixture of work, air raids, dances and some new admirers:
On Thursday we went to a dance for Forces in the Marryat Hall and I met a sweet Pole called Feliks. He is very musical, has been in a concentration camp in Germany, but escaped through Hungary, Yugoslavia, Italy and France. I am meeting him tonight.
On Wednesday we were in the middle of a club night when the sirens went and I went on fire duty. Likewise on Thursday, when we were dashing up and down stairs half the night but managed to get some sleep. Last night I met Elizabeth and her cousin Grizelda something or other and went to the flicks and the siren went again – so we all dashed out and I got a bus home. We went up and down to the shelter house, and at 11 up to bed. But had to keep our clothes on. Horrid. It lasted from about 9.30 till 2.30 – not bad for Dundee!
Finally Sheila has some really good news: ‘Paul is home!’ She won’t be able to meet him for three or four weeks, by which time she hopes to have leave, but she is very ‘excited – it was grand to hear him again after 8 months!’ She reminds her gossipy mother that she is not meant to know which ship he was on, ‘and I’m not saying where he is’.
Meanwhile she has a chance to shine in front of the Chief Officer of Rosyth, Mrs Boyd, who is attending the Wrens’ Club meeting, where Sheila has to read the minutes and the report. Life generally seems to be looking up and you can sense the vitality in her writing again. It also interesting to note the emergence of her responsible attitude and leadership qualities; she doesn’t seem even to be upset by the threat of all leave being cancelled, on account of the fall of Greece and Yugoslavia and British preparations for a counter-attack in the Western Desert:
Mayfield
30.3.41
My dear Mama
Well Chief Officer came on Wednesday and we had our general club meeting. I had to read out my report and was subsequently re-elected secretary!! Miss Overy was very kind, and thanked me publicly for all my hard work and excellent report and Mrs Boyd was charmed. She has asked for a copy of it and wouldn’t believe I had written it all myself! So it was certainly a stroke of luck that she was there for the meeting as that is the kind of thing that impresses them – especially when I was re-elected unanimously! Well well, Miss Overy apparently told Mrs Boyd that I wanted to do cyphering and not secretarial work. Mrs Boyd is wanting a new secretary herself, but I should loathe to be at Rosyth and anyway I have to wait till I’m 21. The Superintendent is coming here shortly and we are expecting the Director later on, so here’s hoping. Mrs Boyd is a dear and everyone loves her.
On Tuesday I went out to supper with Rachel with a girl I met at the Steggalls, who is rather nice. Friday was a terrific day. We had a hectic phone call asking for Wrens to go to a concert given to some soldiers who aren’t allowed to move 100 yards from the gun emplacements in mid Craigie so I rounded up a small party and went. There were 100s of soldiers and 8 (no 9) Wrens. The concert was very very good and they had an item which the actors played and then 4 of the audience had to play so P.O. Swire and I decided to go up on the stage. Oh it was terrific fun – and of course everyone died of laughing. I was the mother and my ‘husband’ (I found out after he came from Norwich) was 1/2 my size. Anyway at the end of the play the C.O. had Swire and I on the stage again and said how pleased he was to see Wrens there, and asked us all to come again. They then gave us a huge feast and we were driven home in grand style in an army van. I met a man from Holt beach (!) and he gave me a copy of the Free Press which I have read from cover to cover!
I have had to work this weekend. Chapman has gone off to OTC [Officers Training Course] at last and whilst walking in the downs on Saturday evening I met Feliks. We went to a canteen and had supper and half the Wrens were there and on to the Empress Ballroom to dance. It is a very nice place. Lovely floor, good band and plenty of room and I quite enjoyed all. He’s a dear really. Though rather solemn. Tho’ it’s not to be wondered at after all he must have been through.
I have been working today quite hard and although it has been a heavenly day, I’ve not been for a walk. I had to do fire watching from 3/5 and slept till 9, so missed my breakfast, so I’ve been trying to catch up since.
I’ve had the room to myself this weekend thank goodness. It’s bad enough now, what will it be like in Summer? When I came back on Friday night there was an adorable little gray mouse flopping about the room. I thought I was seeing things, but no, it was a mouse. I have since got a trap for it, but haven’t had the heart to set it. Anyway, haven’t seen or heard the mouse since.
Please don’t get me new face towels, but send me those I had in London, the orange and the green. It’s no good having anything new here. The laundry is very hard on them. May I please also have my camera? There are plenty of things I would like to take here4
Must fly – oh we may not be getting leave now – all the men’s has been stopped, but the steward starts tomorrow. Will let you know.
Heaps of Love
Sheila
Can you please find and send me McCall pattern for knickers? It should be in my knitting bag.
Club life seems to have played an important part in keeping Sheila, and no doubt the rest of the Wrens, sane. They had a club night in the Marryat Hall in Dundee and she took Jean Stobie and Feliks and another Pole, Joseph. This is followed by a ping-pong tournament against the Unicorn, but she says:
It really is most difficult to think of these Club evenings. Next week we are having a party to celebrate the commissioning of the ship. Then Commander E is giving us a talk. He is a star. We hope to go over to a submarine soon and also another large ship in dock here.
The visit to the ship was a great success, as she writes to her father on 9 May, in one of her affectionate letters to him giving a round-up of all the news:
On Wednesday it was our Club Night, and we had arranged with Captain Hellingman to go over the ‘Columbia’ a huge luxury liner in harbour here at the present. It was really great fun – we were taken over by the stewards. Perhaps you have heard of her – she was a liner on the Holland–West Indies route, and is beautiful inside. After we had been taken round, we were taken to the first class lounge, where a lovely meal was arranged for us – I’ve never seen such a luscious cake since before the war, and they were all made on board. Then we had a sing song, and one of the Wrens was most amusing. I met a Dutch officer who had just come back from Newcastle that day, and had spent the night before staying with the Taylors, who are great friends of the Simpsons. I think he knew Sandy [her ex-boyfriend from Durham], but was a little vague. It was great meeting someone like that, and the Engineer, who was sitting at our table, had been in Newcastle too. They say they will invite us all again, and want me to drop in anytime I like, but of course it wouldn’t be quite the thing, an ’umble Wren boarding this luxury liner whenever I pleased, though they couldn’t see it. I do hope they ask us again though. The only silly thing was that they provided drink ad lib, and some of the Wrens were rather foolish, and took too much. But I haven’t told Miss Overy about that side – and hope she never gets to hear about it, otherwise she’d be furious.
Last night we had a meeting of our Gardening Club, and had our plots of land allotted to us. I am sharing with the C.P.O. [Chief Petty Officer] Cook and another P.O., and we are hoping to grow lettuces, radishes, onions, and all kinds of things. I’d adore to grow a marrow, but I think it would take up too much space, and we haven’t got room. Tonight Rattray, the C.P.O. and I are going down to Broughty Ferry to sail. Jean Stobie and I met an old man who looks after the Yacht Club last week, and he said he would arrange for us to go out with two youths. Unfortunately Jean is going on leave tonight, so Rattray and I are going. It will be fun, though it has turned rather dull. He says we can go over to Newport or Tayport, or where we like, and of course we can get into civvies (slacks, I suppose) which will be lovely.
I spent all Wednesday at a Board of Inquiry, which I love. It really is most interesting, and of course I love doing any secret or confidential work. Also, it means extra cash for me, as I get paid at the rate of 6d. per 100 words. Not bad, when you do lots and lots of pages.
Last night when I was ironing, I found a confidential signal lying on the table, and meant to give it to Jean [Stobie] to deal with, as I suppose one of the stewards had left it there when pressing an officer’s suit. However, I forgot, and so gave it to the Secretary this morning. I happened to mention it to Miss Overy, who naturally thought it was a very serious thing to happen, and said I’d probably get into a row too, though I’m not quite sure why, as I never showed it to anyone, though of course appreciate that I ought to have told someone last night. The officer concerned had seen the signal, and had just left it in his suit, I suppose. Anyway, we shall see. The Secretary mentioned that the Wren concerned would get a bottling. I feel rather sorry, but of course there was no other way out. It’s a very serious thing to let confidential documents lie about – especially when they concern the movements of ships.
How simply lovely if you were to go to Sierra Leone – though I must say the heat would be very trying. However, if you do, make sure that if there are any Wrens there, that I must go too. It would be glorious. I’m simply dying for the opportunity to go abroad – though they haven’t sent many ratings yet. They may do, of course, in which case I shall certainly volunteer.
Mummy has been to Hunston, I see from a letter forwarded by Rosemary today, and has seen nearly everyone worth seeing, including the gorgeous Pompey [cat]. What fun.
I went to Woolworths today, and was able to buy slabs of chocolate, which was a score. Our Canteen has at last given out, and we can get no more, but we are having apples instead, which is really much better for us. I had a letter from Joy yesterday asking if I could send her some chocolate, but there’s not much hope now, as we are only able to buy a limited amount. How do you manage for cigarettes? We are able to buy lots and lots here in our Canteen here, but they are H.M. Ships only, and I’d get a devil of a row if I were to send you any. They do all kinds of things to prevent such things happening – they even have special forms about it.
I must now pack up and go back to Mayfield, as I want to buy my daily apple from the Canteen, and also get ready for going out tonight.
With lots of love,
Sheila
Looking through her scrapbook, I found a letter dated 21 June from the Hon Sec of the Carolina Club, as the Wrens’ Club was called, enclosing a brooch and engraved cufflinks ‘as a small token of appreciation for all the work you did for the Carolina Club while you serving in Dundee’. To her mother, she writes:
I had a lovely surprise yesterday when some gold cuff links SFM and WRNS and an anchor on them, and a naval hat badge broach [sic], arrived as a parting gift from the Carolina Club Wrens of which I was secretary. I feel so smart in them, and am very touched.
She had kept these for the rest of her life, and I found them after she died, along with many other wartime mementoes.
Meanwhile affairs of the heart are still uppermost in Sheila’s mind: her mother has forwarded on a letter from Jaap, sent home to avoid the nosy-parkers at Mayfield. ‘Poor Jaap! He is having a very miserable time and has been in a “horrible bad mood” since he left Dundee. I do wish they would all come back here – we did have such fun and I did like Jaap so much.’ As for Paul – her leave has been cancelled and as ‘things are so uncertain these days’ she’s not sure if they will coincide. ‘He will just have to come to Dundee and see me. That seems the only thing to do, and I have written and told him so.’
Paul does eventually get leave and they manage to meet in Edinburgh in June.
Following the pattern of her relationships yet to come she adds, ‘as usual we scrapped and disagreed but made it up in the end.’ He was due back again in November.
All romantic thoughts quickly disappear when in mid-May she tells her mother that there will be a post for a Wren writer abroad:
Mayfield
14.5.41
Dear Mummy and Daddy –
This is in a terrific hurry – and I want an answer straight away – Miss Overy told me in the strictest confidence that there will be a post for a Wren Writer abroad very shortly and would I like to go. If so, she is prepared to recommend me. It is terribly interesting, and I’d be the only one, but she can’t tell me where it is. The only thing is that I’d be recommended for a commission very shortly – probably anytime now as the Chief Officer says I’m eligible. What on earth am I to do? You see abroad, I wouldn’t have a commission and wouldn’t do so well off, but would have a special subsistence allowance anyway. I think it wouldn’t matter as regards social activities whether I had a commission or not of course the work would be much more interesting than as a Cypher Officer, which gets very boring. Now, I don’t want you to decide for me, but just to say as soon as you possibly can whether you would allow me to go as I am not 21. It would be a great honour – the Superintendent may not of course consider me suitable, but the Chief Officer and Mrs Boyd are with me.
Now I must fly – please let me know BY RETURN, as it is very important we know at once. Wire if you like, but don’t divulge anything as it’s a dead secret.
Heaps of Love,
Sheila
We never hear the response, and the next letter is from the Royal Naval College, Greenwich where she is taking an Officers’ Training Course in Cyphering. It seems she got an unexpected summons to a Selection Board at Rosyth on 22 May. ‘If you are successful in passing that Selection Board, you will probably be required to attend an O.T.C. at Greenwich on 28 May.’ This memorandum is pasted in her scrapbook.
It appears all went well and she left in a great hurry, calling in to see her parents at Durham, where she boarded the sleeper and, in true scatty Sheila style, managed to leave her gas mask, post office book and haversack behind. This was quite serious, she simply ‘dare not arrive without a gasmask, and with great trouble managed to buy one’ by giving an address of somewhere that had been bombed!
There are 49 of them on the course, and they sleep in dormitories. Her room overlooks the river. They are instructed in cyphering and teleprinting until 6.45pm each day, and also have lectures. Their only ‘relaxation’ is the meals, which they take in the Painted Hall, and which are ‘excellent – we are even allowed to have dinner with the Naval officers, so we are coming on.’
Her mother has forwarded a letter from Jaap, with an ‘awfully nice’ photograph of himself enclosed. He is still depressed. Apparently clothes rationing has just been introduced; she can’t resist a quick barb at her flighty sister: ‘Just serves Rosemary right, and people like her.’ At least in the services, most of your clothes are provided free of charge!
She has made a new friend, Marian, whose mother is later to lend Sheila her bike in Methil, her next posting, and together they manage to ‘have a good laugh’ at being waited on and called ‘ma’am’.
Stopping in Durham en route to the OTC; Sheila with her father in the garden.
The course is a precursor to being promoted to Third Officer, provided she passes of course – as she tells her father on 5 June:
Royal Naval College,
Greenwich S.E.10.
5.6.41
Telephone: Greenwich 0606.
Telegrams: College, Greenwich.
Dear Daddy,
Thank you very much indeed for sending me the £1 via Mama – as a matter of fact expenditure to date has been very low, but I expect the pull will come when we are drafted and get no pay at all until we are commissioned.
Am very much enjoying my course, and so hope I pass out all right. I have finished with Cypher at the end of today, completed my 2 lessons on one special machine, and go on to teleprinting tomorrow.
Yesterday Moss Bros came down to fit us for uniform, and I have placed an order with them. And they are supposed to be very good. And also are most reasonable. I’ve ordered 2 suits, one bridge coat and a hat, and if I don’t pass out all right they take responsibility. The suits I have ordered in superfine as I hate serge and the difference in price is negligible, and Hall, Gieves and Lillywhites have also been but are much more expensive.
I am hoping to spend next weekend in London, as I have it free, but may return here on Saturday night. I don’t know yet. Then on Monday we have our board – and learn the fateful news.
Today we had to take squad drill personally, and my goodness it was dreadful, but I managed to get through some of the commands all right. On Monday the Director selects certain girls to take it – heaven help us!
I may be able to get some leave, as a notice has gone on the board asking us to give dates of our last leaves, but nothing is guaranteed. Tonight is guest night, and we have to be very proper and behave well – tons of courses – all very good. I am getting enormous!
A raid last night – nothing much but we repaired to the shelters. We went up to the top of the chapel dome and got a marvellous view. I took some photos! Hope they come out. It is very sultry and Thursday looks like rain – hope it clears up by the weekend.
Lots of love
Sheila
❖❖❖
Sheila was hoping to get sent back to Scotland as the ‘nicest people are up North’ and indeed she ends up in Methil, near Fife. At first she thinks she will like it ‘very much’. She has her own room in the Victoria hotel, Lundin Links, overlooking the sea, and it is ‘marvellously bright and airy’. She likes the officer in charge, and Mrs Boyd, Chief Officer, is on hand to welcome her. An added bonus is that they have a more relaxed attitude to ‘discipline’ and civilian clothing is allowed, except at meals, ‘so I think I’ll be wanting some more clothes please … Definitely, a frock, slacks, navy swimming suit, a cotton frock.’ She is wary, however, of ordering up too much stuff, plus an extra suitcase, until her probation is over in case she moves elsewhere.
But this turns out to be a false hope; she is soon complaining that she ‘loathes’ Miss Jameson, the Wren in charge, ‘and I think she loathes me’. Moreover, they do very little cyphering and no teleprinting, which is a ‘great disappointment … in fact I told them so yesterday so we should see whether I stay here or not’. The officers are all ‘rather old and RNR [Royal Naval Reserve] and not very interesting’.
The letters written between June and November are missing, but by 9 November she is writing:
Things aren’t going at all well here – we are all getting on each other’s nerves and I hate the sight of several of us. Cowser goes tomorrow I am sorry to say she is a dear and we shall miss her very much.
I went to a dance in Leven but didn’t enjoy it very much. I find I’m getting extraordinarily particular who I go out with – and there’s not even a Bert to tell one’s troubles to! I heard from Bert this week; he has sailed now poor old boy. I think he was very depressed about it all, and had a feeling it would be his last trip as he is quite old for our seas. None of his records, which I packed, broke though!
This is all rather depressed – I’m sorry. Somehow one always grumbles, but really, anything would be nice after Methil, I feel. I have just written to Michael Carter [a POW] and feel rather ashamed at grousing when I think of what they must be putting up with.
Heaps of love
Sheila
I have been trying to work out who Bert is: I think she must have met him during the missing letter period. He re-appears in Alexandria and again in Beirut and seems to have been a great source of comfort to her, and very kind. It would be amusing to know exactly how ‘old’ he was as refers to him constantly as ‘old Bert’, but I expect he was barely 40!
With friends at Lundin Links: Sheila and (left to right) Alice West, Chief Officer Boyd, Kay Way, Madge Cowser, Diana Fletcher and Vicar the dog.
Contrary to her letters, life does not seem to have been too bad: there are sherry parties, hockey matches and long walks on the beach, and she bought a gramophone with her birthday money. ‘I’ve always wanted one and I’m very pleased with it. It is a Decca.’ It certainly cheers her up – ‘it is a great boon ... I have a wonderful new recording of Night and Day which I’m afraid we play day in and day out – but it is grand’. She was in fact rather musical and later took singing lessons in Alexandria.
It was at Methil she met a number of Wrens who were to make the journey to the Middle East with her and who were to become her great friends: Kay Way, Mary Dugdale, Sybil Hoole and Diana Fletcher.
In June she wrote that she had not yet received confirmation of her appointment to Third Officer, but in September she celebrated her 21st birthday in some style, with a large dinner party for at least twenty-four (from Commanders, Lieutenant Commanders, and their wives, downwards), as counted on the signed menu. Bert was also there; his RSVP reads:
21st Birthday dinner menu.
Sheila parachuting.
To our Gert
Wishing her very many happy returns of the day on her 21st birthday from
The Three Berts
The menu was signed by all and is stuck in her scrapbook.
We know Sheila had been promoted by then as the formal RSVPs refer to her as 3rd Officer Mills.
Never short of admirers, there seem to have been a number of Polish officers stationed nearby, and one of them, Edward, promised to take her to the parachute tower to make a jump. ‘I’ve always wanted to do it, but don’t know if I will be brave enough.’ Well she was – as there is photographic evidence to prove it! Again in her scrapbook is pasted a note from him ‘I can only hope – your admirer’.
November and December are dark days for the Royal Navy: first the Ark Royal and the Barham are torpedoed off Malta by U-boats in November; then in the Far East the Repulse and the Prince of Wales are also sunk, while the Queen Elizabeth and the Valiant are sunk in Alexandria harbour. The theatre of war has also shifted very firmly to North Africa and the Middle East.
So it is hardly surprising that in early December she writes an excited letter to her mother:
Lundin Links
10.12.41
My dear Mama –
I’m terribly sorry to have been so long in writing. Honestly there has been such a lot to do one way and another I haven’t had a moment for writing to anyone. However, thank you for your letter. I hope Daddy got the cigs. I thought I’d better register them.
Well things are on the move I think at last. Chief Officer came over the other day and I asked her about going abroad, and she seemed most agreeable, but said as I was young, I’d better get my parents to write a consent addressed (No. Alice says doesn’t have to be addressed to anyone) saying you are agreeable to my serving abroad, and it will be attached to my papers. She says I’d probably be sent in the beginning of the year in March maybe. Piddocke then spoke to her and she told her that whether I go abroad or not I’ll be the next one to leave Methil after Kay goes abroad in January. This is all very thrilling, and I take to it well …
We had a grand party last night, one of the officers from an HMT [Her Majesty’s Trawler] came ashore and asked me for tea, and so I took Alice with me. Also in the party were the C/O and No 1 off one of the A/A escort ships. Very nice. Then the doctor from the ship arrived, and a sub.5 from the trawler, so we had a good party. They all came back to dinner (we managed it somehow!) and then they left about 9.30. It’s a pity they won’t be here for the dance tomorrow. I am in the soup well and proper because I’d really expected Paul to be here for it, and also asked the HMT man mentioned above as I thought they would be here too; so the others asked 3 Air Arm people from Donibristle, now neither of my possibilities will be coming, I can see, so I’ll have to go with Lieut. Porteous and his party (all the duds of Methil Base) as he’s been asking us to go for about a month now. But he assures me he’ll have a young army Lieut. from Kincraig for me, so I hope it will be OK. I don’t feel very keen about the dance really. But know I must go!
… I’ve just had my hair done and look rather queer – for the dance tomorrow. My watches have been changed so I’m not going on till 7 tonight. Oh no, I forgot I’ve got to go on at 5, what a nuisance! However, Mary and I are going for a walk this afternoon.
I’ve got quite a good selection of gramophone records now and the C/O of the A/A ship says he’ll lend me some of his if I’m careful. Hope he remembers!
Must stop now and go out.
Heaps of love
Sheila
Lundin Links. Fife
17/12/41
My dear Mama –
Thank you for your letter – I’m sorry you are so much against my going abroad because I feel I want to go very much, though less so now than I did a week ago, because Jaap is home and I have been hearing from him what it would be like – however it will be necessary for me to have a letter to forward to Rosyth whether to go or not, and I can always withdraw my application – so I do hope you or Daddy will give me one!
I had such a lovely surprise on Monday because Jaap phoned up to say he’d arrived home and could we meet – so of course we could, on Tuesday luckily, as it was my day off. So I went up to Edinburgh (meeting Jaap on the train by some extraordinary coincidence) and we had tea, went to a flick, then to dinner at the Aperitif and on to the Dequises, where we danced. He is still a great dear, though he doesn’t look so well, he weights 200 lbs (help that’s 16 stone, tho’ he doesn’t look fat – but of course is very tall 6ft 3”). He is coming over here on Friday and spending the night at Lundin Links hotel – we are invited to a party here, so I hope to get Jaap an invitation too. Then we shall go up to Edinburgh on Saturday and I shall probably come down south [i.e. home for Christmas] on Sunday – I don’t think I shall go to London as travelling would be terrible. Jaap is going down south whenever his luggage arrives – maybe we’ll even be honoured with his presence for Xmas – but I’ve not broached the subject yet – as I believe he has arranged to stay with relations in London. However, if he did come, would you object, and would it make a lot of extra work?
I am very upset because Mary Dugdale has been transferred to Greenock – all of a sudden, and I have lost my best friend once more! We have had such fun – especially with one of the Poles called Nicholas who often takes us out. He came to the dance with me, and we had a grand party of farewell. She didn’t want to go one bit – in fact she was most upset about it. We used to have such fun – long long walks together and we had the same taste in all things, music, dancing, etc. It is all very sad. Sybil and I were walking on the beach on Sunday when we discovered a duck all oil lying on the sand, so of course we brought him in, rubbed him down, and kept him warm until we though he was better. He was saturated in oil, but I think we managed to get most of it off – we set him free yesterday.
If I get a moment when I am home, I want to meet Joy who is still at Scarborough. I don’t think she will be coming to Fife after all and I would so much like to see her.
Well, no more tonight.
Hope you are feeling better.
Much love
Sheila
So ends 1941, Jaap back on the scene, Paul away at sea on the Sheffield, and Sheila’s parents objecting to her going abroad. Her relationship with her mother has remained prickly despite the flow of letters. Here is a typical explosion in response to her mother listening to bridge-table gossip and accusing Sheila of not knowing what she is entitled to:
You make me very cross when you say that the Johnsons are very quick on the uptake, as if I were not. The Navy does not give an allowance for plain clothes ever, and it’s just hard luck. One can’t break King’s regulations, you know.
Sheila did not join the WRNS to serve out the war in Scotland – she was yearning for adventure and was determined to go abroad given the opportunity, whether mother agreed or not.
2 While language such as this might seem shocking today, it must be remembered that it was common parlance at the time.
3 The Sheffield had been involved in the shelling of Genoa, and operations against Vichy convoys and supporting air reinforcements in Malta. She played a large part in shadowing the Bismarck, which was eventually sunk in May 1941.
4 The lack of camera explains why there are so few photographs in the first few months of service.
5 Sub was the abbreviation for Sub-Lieutenant, the equivalent of 3rd Officer; many subs were RNVR (Royal Navy Volunteer Reserves) like my father.