Category Archives: Womens History

Part Two 7: Experimental Theatre

Posted on November 14, 2014 by petegrafton

Part Two 7: Experimental Theatre “I’ve been thinking about what I want to study and have decided that in all respects the theatre is really what I want. What I’m interested in most is the experimental theatre, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairo 1940s, Feminism, Gender Studies, Letters, Social and Political History, Suez Canal Zone, Womens History | Tagged Bernard Rice, El Qassasin, Fanara, George Orwell, GHQ MELF, Groppis, Haifa, Hairmyres Hospital, I Chose Freedom, Irgun, Ismailia, John Ropes, Keith Douglas, Lawrence Durrell, Maadi, Middle East Anthology, Ministry of Supply MOS, Moascar, Olivia Manning, Operation Polly, RADA, RAF Fayid, Tel El Kebir, Victor Kravchenko, Zamalek | Leave a comment

Part Two 6: Bouncing Back “Scarier, Scarier, Ra, Ra, Ra”

Posted on November 7, 2014 by petegrafton

Part Two 6: Bouncing Back: “Scarier, Scarier, Ra, Ra, Ra” 17 December, 1947. Hello Chum! It’s exactly eight days since we heard from you – that is until your 241 and 242 got here this morn. (1) Believe me, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairo 1940s, Feminism, Gender Studies, Letters, Social and Political History, Suez Canal Zone, Womens History | Tagged APO Army Post Office, BMH British Military Hospital, BTD Base Transit Depot, Cairo Theatre Guild, Clyde Valley Power Company, DADOS, Eastern Exchange Port Said, El Ballah, El Kirsch, Fanara, Moascar Garrison, Port Fouad, Richard Wooley, suezcanalzone.com | Leave a comment

Part Two 5: Betrayed

Posted on October 31, 2014 by petegrafton

Part Two 5: Betrayed. “For over 7 months I’ve thought I’ve been in love with & engaged to Ernst. All my plans – with a brake on – were made in relation to him. Now I find in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairo 1940s, Feminism, Gender Studies, Letters, Social and Political History, Suez Canal Zone, Womens History | Tagged APO Army Post Office, Bishop Allen Cairo, BMEO British Middle East Office, Claridges Cairo, Cork Ireland, El Kirsch, Fayid, General Allfrey, John Gielgud, Maadi Cairo, Moascar Garrison, Mouski Cairo, Partick, Ronald Cambell Ambassador Egypt 1947, Scotstoun, Societe Phillipe Cairo, Splendide Port Said, ss Caronia, wedding Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip | Leave a comment

Part Two 4: Cholera and Riots

Posted on October 24, 2014 by petegrafton

Part Two 4: Cholera and Riots “Listen, honey lamb, there’s something we want you to do for us and that is, please, while this Cholera epidemic is rife send us a wee note everyday, it needn’t be long or … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairo 1940s, Feminism, Gender Studies, Letters, Social and Political History, Suez Canal Zone, Womens History | Tagged A.P.Herbert, British Coaling Co, Cairo Drama Guild, Carbisdale Castle, Cholera epidemic Egypt 1947, Daily Worker, El Ballah, El Koreen, food shortage Britain 1947, housing shortage Britain 1947, India Tyre and Rubber Co, Infantile paralysis, Ismailia, Ismailiyah, Nancy Riach, Port Said, SIB Special Investigations Branch, ss Patrician, Tel el Kabir, Theodore Salvesen, Tramore, UNRRA | Leave a comment

Part Two 3: Life as Medicine

Posted on October 17, 2014 by petegrafton

Part Two 3: Life As Medicine “Some of the English girls don’t seem alive at all – they take life as a sort of medicine.” – Vera, a young Russian, quoted by Len, 28 August, 1947. 18 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairo 1940s, Feminism, Gender Studies, Letters, Social and Political History, Suez Canal Zone, Womens History | Tagged Anthrax, Clement Attlee, Cowal Games, David Kirkwood, De Lessops Monument Port Said, Dornoch, Edinburgh Festival 1947, Fleetwood, Foreign Service Allowance, Fort William, Gezira, Glencoe, Groppis, Gruinard Bay, Gruinard Island, Ishmailia, Journal d'Egypte, Mahmud Nurqrashi, Morecambe, Musky, Porton Down, RSA certificate, Shaibah, Sphinx magazine, ss Empire Rival, Suez Canal Zone, Supplies and Services Bill, Tito, Willie Gallacher, Winston Churchill | Leave a comment

Part Two 2: Quick Ripening of Intense Feelings

Posted on October 10, 2014 by petegrafton

Part Two 2: Quick Ripening of Intense Feelings “In the few spare moments when I have time to think of personal things, my thoughts inevitably wander back in your direction. The quick ripening of our intense feelings for one … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairo 1940s, Feminism, Gender Studies, Letters, Social and Political History, Suez Canal Zone, Womens History | Tagged 51 Military Prison, Abadan, All the Shahs Men, Anglo Iranian Oil Company, City of Hong Kong, Ellerman City Line, Fanara, Fayid, Fleetwood, Haifa, Kestos, MacBraynes, Morecambe, New Brighton, Port Said, Post War Credit Notes, ROF Dalmuir, ss Dominion Monarch, ss Exodus, ss Franconia, ss President Wharfield, Tucks Post Card, Winston Churchill, Zamalek | Leave a comment

Part Two 1: Fresh and Innocent

Posted on October 3, 2014 by petegrafton

Part Two 1: Fresh and Innocent “I’m so happy you are as you just are, so fresh and innocent and yet with that wee bit of worldly wisdom which is such a safeguard. Your stay in the East will … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairo 1940s, Feminism, Gender Studies, Letters, Social and Political History, Suez Canal Zone, Womens History | Tagged Auchendrennan, British atomic bomb, British Stores Disposals Mission, Cairo, Civil Service Clerical Association, Clement Atlee, Clothing coupns, Emanuel Shinwell, Gezira, India Rubber Co., King Farouk, Loch Lomond Youth Hostel, Ministry of Supply, prefabs, Sauchiehall Street, Shepheards Hotel, Squatting, Suez Canal Zone, Thomas Cooks | 1 Comment

Part One: Growing Up in Britain 1925 – 1945

Posted on September 26, 2014 by petegrafton

Part One: Growing Up in Britain 1925 – 1945 “Is there any advantage to be derived from having a feeling of belonging or attachment to one particular place? Personally during my 19 years I have lived in many … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism, Gender Studies, Letters, Social and Political History, Womens History | Tagged 1938 Holidays with Pay Act, Anglo-Polish Ballet, Battle of the Bulge, Carbeth, Castle Archdale, Clydebank, Dornoch, Fords Cork, Glasgow Alhambra, Glencoe, Irvinestown, John Brown's Clydebank, Lucia de Brouckere, Marine Hotel Hunters Quay, South East Essex Technical College, ss Queen Elizabeth, ss Queen Mary, Taits Smile, The Franconia | 1 Comment

Len: Our Ownest Darling Girl – The Background and Acknowledgments

Posted on July 29, 2014 by petegrafton

To read the Chapters in chronological order: go to CHAPTERS (above) and click on the Chapter you wish to read, or to access a chapter you can also go to Recent Posts on the right. This online publication is free, … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism, Gender Studies, Letters, Social and Political History, Womens History | Tagged Barking and Dagenham Gazette, Cairo, Mackays, Mass Observation, Ministry of Supply, Nella Last's War, Porton Down, ss Franconia, Sukran Sahin, Wynyard Hall | 1 Comment