In September Stan was called up and had to report to Blandford camp in Dorset, where he was to become a very reluctant soldier in a Weary Anti-Aircraft battalion of the Royal Artillery. He wrote to tell me that they had been on an exercise around Lyme Regis. “The moon was shining on the bay, turning everything to silver, I should think that this would be a lovely place to come to in peace time.”
Ah, peace, how we all craved for it. A great deal was to happen before that magical state was to be achieved. I was moved back from Cheadle to take charge of the Crewe shop, but that could not last, as I would be ‘called up’ soon myself. Marjorie and Joan had both married and left the shop. Marjorie’s husband Fred Barnett was in the Air Force, they had a little boy, John. Joan’s husband Clifford Galliard worked at Rolls Royce. They had a little girl, Margaret.
Stan was allowed weekend leave to attend Noel and Nora’s wedding on October 3 1942. Stan was best man and before he went into the army both he and Noel had each ordered a morning suit to be tailored. Stan must have given Noel the clothing coupons for his. They were both a very similar size, and apparently, on the wedding morning when they were both dressed and ready to go, Noel said to Stan, “you’ve got my suit on”, “Course I haven’t” said Stan. “Well this does not feel right” says Noel.
There was no time to change, and off they went. Always after Noel would refer to the fact that “Our Stanley had my suit on and I never felt comfortable in his”. The reception was at the George Hotel in Burslem. One of Nora’s uncles handed cigarettes round after the meal, he did not offer them to me, and later Stan handed me one. Uncle then said, “Oh I must apologise for not offering you a cigarette, I thought you were a schoolgirl.” Stan smiled and I suppose I did, (through gritted teeth). I hated the idea of looking, younger than I was. Ha, how times change! I was sure that if he had seen me before I took my coat and hat off he would have thought that I looked at least thirty.
My coat was grey, belted, and my hat was a navy blue ‘Henry Heath’ all the fashion and carefully saved up for. 12/11d. There were no coupons for fancy outfits. When we got back to Vale View after seeing Nora and Noel off to Llandudno for their honeymoon, everyone went into the kitchen to have cups of tea. It was a big comfortable living kitchen and there was room for lots of people. Stan whispered to me that perhaps I’d like to play the piano. He was not in the least musical but liked the idea of me playing. I was not a good player by any means and only really enjoyed it when 1 was by myself. The thought of this crowd following and expecting to hear a ‘selection’ at the piano horrified me, but they were all too busy drinking tea and talking.
In fact Stan didn’t want me to play the piano, he wanted to ask me to marry him! He had to go back to camp on the Sunday. He hated the regimentation and the uniform; though being tall and good-looking, he looked very smart. It was awful to have to part at a time when we should have been so happy, but it was happening to thousands.