WAR-TIME LIFE IN ENGLAND

Southland Times, Issue 24879, 20 October 1942, Page 4

WAR-TIME LIFE IN ENGLAND

People’s Cheerful Outlook Pleasure at the warmth of the hospitality she had received and the kindness shown to her by New Zealand people were commented on in an interview last night by Mrs Marguerite Strang, wife of Flight-Lieutenant R. H. Strang, who lost his life through a defect in his aeroplane during a flight over the English Channel. Mrs Strang arrived in New Zealand last week and is at present staying with Mr and Mrs R. M. Strang, Lewis street. Mrs Strang is charmed with the individuality of the houses in New Zealand, and remarked on the evident pride that is taken in the gardens. In England at present not much attention was being paid to flower gardens, she said. All the space was taken up with the growing of vegetables and many of the tenement houses had no gardens at all. But here almost every house, no matter how humble, had a few flowers in some corner of the garden. “People here live very comfortably, ’ continued Mrs Strang. “Rationing of food and clothes is not nearly so severe as in England. There people are always queuing up for something, and pedestrians do not bother to ask what it is—they just join on the end and await their turn.” Jams and jellies were rationed and sweets and fruit were very difficult to procure. It was quite an unheard of thing to wrap a parcel. People just walked along the streets carrying baskets of unwrapped goods. CHEERFUL BRITONS The cheerful outlook of the British people even after the most severe air raid was wonderful, said Mrs Strang. Their unfailing sense of humour always came to the surface. The blackout itself was so severe that it would test the nerves of even the strongest, but even this was cheerfully accepted. Mrs Strang considers that New Zealanders do not know the meaning of the word blackout. Those women who were called up for essential industries took up the work allotted to them very cheerfully. Mrs Strang herself was, before her marriage, doing secretarial work at area and divisional Army Headquarters. Everywhere in England today were to be seen women in uniform. However, they did not neglect their appearance and in some beauty parlours it was necessary to book an appointment two months ahead even for a hair setting. Mrs Strang lived with her husband on various air stations round about London. The wives of the men made their own social life and every month a dance was held in the officers’ mess. The pilots led a busy life, but every month or so had five days’ leave. The wives of the pilots usually regarded a dull, cloudy day as a “perfect” day because operations on these days were impossible. The men themselves, said Mrs Strang, were always joking and chatting. Danger meant nothing to them —they made light of it. NEW ZEALANDERS POPULAR The New Zealand airmen and soldiers were very popular with the people. They were made welcome everywhere. At her own home at various times she had entertained Flying Officer Eric Stewart (who has since been killed), Flight-Lieutenant Don Collie, Flying Officer J. Checketts and Flying Officer Ray Watson (all of Invercargill). Mrs Strang was wearing a gold brooch in the form of a caterpillar. It was awarded to the late Flight-Lieu-tenant Strang when he baled _ out to save his life. He was then admitted to membership of the Caterpillar Club a coveted honour. Airmen who gained this distinction never displayed -the emblem. It was always worn under the lapel of the jacket. The eyes of the caterpillar in Mrs Strang’s brooch are red, indicating that the pilot’s plane caught fire.