In the Second World War, Violet Clarke served in The Auxiliary Territorial Service. She was from farming stock in Norfolk and didn’t want to become a Land Girl so joined the ATS. The ATS was the forerunner to the Women’s Royal Army Corps. She provides some lovely detail about her time in Mertsham which was a holding point for tanks and armoured vehicles being stored for D-Day [she recalls a young Princess Elizabeth]. As a Salvationist, she got wind of an opportunity to join the band and subsequently became a Trombonist based at Norfolk House in London. Again some more lovely detail provided. We secured this interview thanks to the good people at the Royal British Legion Industry village in Aylesbury Kent.

Violet Clarke

This interview was recorded thanks to the good people at the Royal British Legion Industry village in Aylesbury Kent.

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Educational Resources

WW2 D-Day veterans
1939-1945
WW2 Convoy veterans
1939-1945
Our Secret WW2
1940-1946
The Korean War
1950-1953
WW1 War recordings