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My Time in the War: An Irishwoman's Diary
'June 6 Extra! Extra! Extra! June 6th. D-Day! It's happened. At last. My heart has beaten like a slow drum in my chest the whole day without cease since we heard the news. A most extraordinary reaction.
Who is on the landing beaches - some getting killed this instant - men we've danced with maybe. Longlegs? Sure to be there. What about Anton? l haven't heard from him for a long time, nor he from me, I admit it. Armadas of ships of every size and kind are in action off France today. Joe doesn't know when his outfit is to pull out. We kept feeling each other's hearts tonight because we were so astonished they wouldn't stop that slow excitement/dread thumping.'
From Belfast to Berlin, this captivating diary traces one Dublin woman's vivid depiction of her life as a soldier. The immediacy and adventure of army life, the excitement of wartime Europe, poignant letters from soldier boyfriends who would never return from battle. Amidst all of this, the fun and friendship of Romie and her companions - a happy-go-lucky gang of young women embarking upon life in a man's world.
Army dances packed with eager war-weary colonels and majors who softened to chat with the young Irishwoman driving them across battle-scarred 'displaced persons' and concentration camp victims trekking for hundreds of miles to find their former homes... Romie Lambkin's compelling diary tells a singular story.
Who is on the landing beaches - some getting killed this instant - men we've danced with maybe. Longlegs? Sure to be there. What about Anton? l haven't heard from him for a long time, nor he from me, I admit it. Armadas of ships of every size and kind are in action off France today. Joe doesn't know when his outfit is to pull out. We kept feeling each other's hearts tonight because we were so astonished they wouldn't stop that slow excitement/dread thumping.'
From Belfast to Berlin, this captivating diary traces one Dublin woman's vivid depiction of her life as a soldier. The immediacy and adventure of army life, the excitement of wartime Europe, poignant letters from soldier boyfriends who would never return from battle. Amidst all of this, the fun and friendship of Romie and her companions - a happy-go-lucky gang of young women embarking upon life in a man's world.
Army dances packed with eager war-weary colonels and majors who softened to chat with the young Irishwoman driving them across battle-scarred 'displaced persons' and concentration camp victims trekking for hundreds of miles to find their former homes... Romie Lambkin's compelling diary tells a singular story.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1997
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April 16, 2017
This well-bred young woman served as a driver during the Second World War and was part of the advance across Europe.
As Romy tells us honestly about her personal life it does seem that the war loomed bigger than everything, especially as she could not make personal decisions because she had to be back at base.
When she drove an officer to another military base, Romy might have to stay overnight and of course could not be put in the soldiers' barracks. There might be a few other females on the base but sometimes none, and on one occasion in the dead of winter she was given an entire Nissen hut with a stove to herself. The stove was to stop her from freezing to death.
The long-awaited advance was very exciting but is briefly told. Romy was not near the front line and followed the successes across Europe.
For anyone wishing to see what the support team for the actual front line was like, read 'A Horse in My Kitbag' by Olga Pyne Clarke, which I have reviewed. Olga had promised her fiancé that she would not enlist so instead she joined the YWCA and ran their field kitchen to support the advancing troops. She had to dress as a man because Monty would not allow women at the front. This is a far less glamorous memoir than Romy's and brings home the horrors of war.
As Romy tells us honestly about her personal life it does seem that the war loomed bigger than everything, especially as she could not make personal decisions because she had to be back at base.
When she drove an officer to another military base, Romy might have to stay overnight and of course could not be put in the soldiers' barracks. There might be a few other females on the base but sometimes none, and on one occasion in the dead of winter she was given an entire Nissen hut with a stove to herself. The stove was to stop her from freezing to death.
The long-awaited advance was very exciting but is briefly told. Romy was not near the front line and followed the successes across Europe.
For anyone wishing to see what the support team for the actual front line was like, read 'A Horse in My Kitbag' by Olga Pyne Clarke, which I have reviewed. Olga had promised her fiancé that she would not enlist so instead she joined the YWCA and ran their field kitchen to support the advancing troops. She had to dress as a man because Monty would not allow women at the front. This is a far less glamorous memoir than Romy's and brings home the horrors of war.
Displaying 1 of 1 review