Gwen (otherwise known as Lyn) Patrino, whose maiden name was Rowe, was born and bred at Southampton from 1926.

I remember the war years, being evacuated to Ferndown in Dorset, and coming home within a month. They prayed for the 'little evacuees' although there was as yet no bombing. Came home, everyone was gone; the song 'They are either too young or too old' was very apropos.

House got bombed (UXB), had to move to another house. I remember the night in the air-raid shelter with a tin roof and shrapnel falling. There was a cover on the opening and my dad said, 'there goes the house' but there was enough left to go in and get a cup of tea.

My sister and brother were called up, it was very lonely. Seemed always cold and hungry. Americans came to town and the officers were billeted across the street from where I worked. I married the best one and, until he died 10 years ago, was very happy with him.

Remember sailing from Southampton for California on my birthday. Lost touch with many friends, don't remember names but never forget my background.

My husband's name was Ben (Patrino), an Italian American. We were married for over forty years until his death. I was (that hated word) a war-bride.

Quite recently a group of war-brides got together (apparently they had been getting together for some time). We met in Denver, Colorado. Believe it or not we left on September 10th at night and many had trouble getting back because of the Twin Towers debacle.

Anyway there are many German girls who belong, and we all sang songs together: English, German, Australian, et al. The various consuls were there and it was a quite moving, and fun.

As a teenager I had worked at the Southampton Chamber of Commerce opposite the Polygon Hotel. That's where my future husband was billeted. I remember the night the war ended, my husband to be and I went to a movie called 'The end of Time' the story of George Sands.

The manager came out and put the lights on and said the war is over, those of you who want to see the end of the movie may remain. We were all very polite and waited to the end of the movie, but that night my parents allowed me to go to the Hotel to a dance.

Because of clothes rationing, my mother made a long dress for me from fabric she had planned on making curtains from. There is so much of that period of time that sounds so fanciful but it is all memories that many of us do not forget.

Unfortunately, until very recently it was something I rarely talked about but now it is quite a subject of interest over here. Well enough, my hand is wearing out, hope this was not boring.

One last thought, I have never met anyone from Southampton since I left, but yesterday I read about a group from Southampton who were going to some sort of re-union on the Queen Mary. I have to find out about it. I never forget my home.

Gwen Patrino, California, 2002