When the war was over

"It always seemed to be the left hand that was missing. For a short time when I was a lad I worked at the Enfield. There was a chap there called Tom who only had one hand and had a big hook on the end of his wrist. I remember he fell out with the bloke in the stores and they started to fight in the store. Tom lunged at the storeman with his hook so the storeman packed up a bicycle wheel with the spokes in and when Tom lunged at him he got the hook caught in the spokes. It pulled the harness off his back. By that time people arrived and broke up the fight.”

“Then people were walking round in bits of army uniform - army boots, battledress army jackets. Rationing went on until the 1950's. I can remember sweets being on ration. Gradually, as time passed things came off rationing. I can remember my mum saying to my Aunty. 'Butter's coming off rationing next week.”

Click to enlarge