Framed Black & White Photo of Joy Hunter. Overall size inclu...

1/2

Hammer

£30

Fees

Framed Black & White Photo of Joy Hunter. Overall size including frame 96cm x 71cm. This is her story: "I joined the typing pool at the War Cabinet Offices in Jan 1944 as part of the Joint Planning Secretariat. It was quite daunting as an 18 year old, realising that you were at the centre of it all and the work was very intense with lots of pressure and sometimes we had to do 24 hour shifts, with bunks available if necessary. As all the work was so sensitive, nobody knew what anyone else was doing or indeed who worked in any of the other offices, as we were locked in our small, over crowded, stuffy and smoky rooms with Marine Guards on the doors. We used the old big Imperial typewriters that made a loud zing when you pushed the carriage across and sounded a very big bell when you eventually got to the end. It was on such a machine that I was instructed to type up the full order of battle for Operation Overlord, prior to the landings on the 6th June. Churchill was there most of the time and was always friendly and unlike some of the other senior staff, would always say hello if we passed in the narrow corridors or he might inquire if the last air raids had affected us or our families. As soon as the air raid siren started, he would shoot up to the roof so not to miss anything. One evening he invited us to watch a film in his cinema room. I can’t remember what film it was, but I remember it started around midnight when Churchill burst into the room in his slippers, pyjamas and dressing gown with his signature cigar in one hand and a glass of brandy in the other proclaiming loudly, “Winnie’s here, let it roll!”