(Copyright Coxhoe Local History Group)
Memories of The War Years
Jenny was 16 years old when the war was declared and was allocated a job at the Munitions Factory at Spennymoor. The factory produced the shell cases which were transferred to Aycliffe to be filled with explosives. The workers had to report to duty “no matter what” so vital was their contribution to the war effort.
Jenny is now 81 and lives at Landsdowne Road, Coxhoe. Despite her advancing years she still retains her sharp sense of humour and recalls the lure of the Italian prisoners of war at Coxhoe Hall.
“They were a pull for all the young lasses” she says. “We used to walk past the hall and when we were challenged with ‘WHO GOES THERE’ by the guards we would reply ‘IT’S ONLY US’ and then we had to fly in case we were caught fraternising with the soldiers”.
Nylon stockings were scarce at that time so the young ladies used make up on their legs and drew a line using eye pencil for the stocking seam to make them look like stockings. Jenny’s brothers girlfriend used this technique but she remembers one night when it rained and we can all guess what happened to the make up!
Life wasn’t easy and a little had to go a long way. They often acquired a few bacon bones from the butchers and supplemented them with vegetables to make broth.
The war years were not easy for Jenny but she recalls many happy memories.
Coxhoe Local History Group 