Interview with Doreen 'Dawn' Filby nee Skeggs

  • Women's Voices and Life Writing
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Title
Interview with Doreen 'Dawn' Filby nee Skeggs
Interviewee
  • Filby, Doreen
Interviewer
Antrobus, Stuart
Document Type
  • Oral history Recording
Date
20 Feb 2003
Interview Date
20 Feb 2003
Biography
Doreen was born 3rd April 1927, in London. She worked for Bedfordshire Women’s Land Army from 17th September 1943 to 31st March 1950. Served at Milton Ernest Hostel, Forewoman WLA. She speaks about her family, and their jobs. Her family lost their home in a “Flying bomb” attack near the end of the war. She was twelve when the war started. She and brother were evacuated to Fingingham, Suffolk. She left school aged fourteen and went to work in British Home Stores at St Albans, in a tea bar. She then returned to London. Being too young for armed forces, she falsified her birth certificate by one year, joining at sixteen. She joined the Women’s Land Army in Ilford. As she was good at figures, they wanted her to join the Timber Corp, but she wanted to work with animals. She recalls having influenza during her first week. She recalls the daily activities, chores and work she would do during this time. Prisoners of war, Germans and Italians, assisted on the farms. She remembers the food and drink, as well as social events.
Length (minutes)
60
Copyright and Source Archive
Material sourced from Bedfordshire Archives and Records Service