I was in The Sunshine Six, a dance troupe of local girls. We used to go and put on entertainments for the troops at Savoy and Norton.
One night I remember when we were dancing, I kicked and my shoe came off, and it landed in the Colonel’s lap. He came and presented it to me afterwards. Annette Haynes nee Holloway b 1929
Tag Archives: HMS Manatee
Blanche Kennard: WWII, D Day 1944
We used to go to dances at HMS Manatee in the Drill Hall, hoping to meet a sailor. One night a soldier said to me,
‘Come out with me tomorrow and I’ll take you to the Pictures. If I don’t turn up, you’ll know why.’
There were lots and lots of little boats outside the Pier – you could have walked across them. The next day they were all gone – it was D Day 1944. So many people were lost, so many people died. Blanche Kennard nee Dore b 1922
Blanche Kennard: WWII, WRNS billets 1940s
My first billet was Gordon House in the High Street, (where Glasspool’s Chemist was, now Black rock Insurance). Years later I’d walk past and look at a window and think, that was my room. There was a sort of dormitory for seven WRNS on the top floor in the Pier Hotel (The George) and lots more at HMS Manatee ( Norton Holiday camp). I had my 21st birthday when I was stationed at The Pier Hotel.
Pier Hotel post card from Mike Holden
The central office was in the Pier Hotel, dealing with signals although we never knew much. It was ‘XDO West’ and the WRNS Officer in charge was named Greenshields. Blanche Kennard nee Dore b 1922
Navy at Yarmouth, Pier hotel