Pauline Finnis

Recollections of wartime as a wife and a mother.

Relocating

In May 1939, Pauline married her husband. Shortly after the wedding, Pauline’s husband joined the Royal Marines and in September 1939 Pauline joined her husband in Devonport where his ship was docked. After six months in Devonport, Pauline returned to Deal. However, as the bombing began Pauline relocated a number of times; from Portsmouth to Scarborough and later to Hebburn on Tyne. When Pauline fell pregnant she returned to Deal but was soon evacuated to Byfleet in Surrey. Before the end of the war, Pauline returned to Deal and later relocated to Scarborough.

'We were very lucky'

Considering the war, Pauline recalls ‘I had 2 brothers, one a Royal Marine, the other RAF. The eldest served in the Desert and ships, the younger in Burma. We are now 87, me 90 and older brother 93. We were very lucky as I lost a lot of friends during the 4 years’.  

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