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Patricia Bridgen Farley was a Wren (Womens Royal Naval Service) stationed at Portkil, Near Kilcreggan, Scotland during World War II, living in a house affectionately known to the group of Wrens that were based there as 'The Barn'. The Wrens came to be known as the 'Barnites'.
A select band of more sophisticated village families resided away from the shops in Kilcreggan in big, comfortable-looking homes. The husbands went off on the steamer or ferry to the big city, meaning Glasgow, every weekday. At the weekend, at least until war closed down the marinas, there was a lot of sailing and high living.
One such family was the Johnson's. Mr Johnson worked in the city, something to do with stock broking and his wife, Joan, made an art of being the lady of the manor, 'the hostess with the mostest', as the song said. Simple luncheons, more exotic cocktail parties, and dinners were her speciality.
Mrs. Johnson found a new form of recreation when the Americans arrived, especially the American officers. She quickly became friends with those in high command and did her best to promote good relations between the U.S. and the British Isles.
Whether she had her own little fling remains a mystery. We knew that her husband was reputed to be a womaniser, and she might have liked the tit for tat. But it was the time, the wartime atmosphere. From top general and admirals, to the lowlier species, there was a lot of, what my husband later referred to as 'shacking up'.
Joan arranged for respectable ladies of her circle to entertain the naval officers and doctors. Their own husbands were away on war duty and they were eager to have and offer some attention. It was up to each individual to decide how far this attention would go. I'm sure it went off well, whatever was wanted.
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