HONOURABLE WAR SERVICE

1942

KING George VI awards Malta the George Cross for heroism under relentless German air attack, and Desert Island Discs is first broadcast.

Eric’s farming was regarded as vital war work. He also did his bit by joining the Home Guard. ‘i used to tease him that, with him in the Home Guard, why should Britain tremble?’ laughs Nancy.

A German bomb fell near their home but failed to explode. Life was tough. ‘When we wanted a bath we would fill a bucket from the water pump in the garden, heat the water in a boiler in the kitchen and then pour it into a galvanised tub,’ she says.

Baths were a saturday night treat. Eric always insisted that Nancy take the first dip.