2. WW1 - Going to Work & Conscription

LEN: My parents sent me to London to earn my living when I finished school. I was quite excited by it all! RON: I’m now a boy clerk in the Post Office in London, I was looking forward to working there and earning my own way in life. LEN: I now work in an Estate Agent’s Office, we’ve all been talking about the rumours of war. Most of us don’t believe it. RON: I live in Kensington, London. I enjoy my life as a civil servant, the office that I work in has just become a savings bank and I am earning a good wage. LEN: I have heard that the Germans are getting ready for war, why else are they making guns, weapons and building a bigger army? RON: I met a new chap at work and we’ve become good friends, we both work as boy clerks. It’s great; we have a lot of fun. LEN: I have some new friends. On my first day at work I was quite confused about where I was to go, however - a lad, about my age, showed me the way to the article writer’s office… I was very grateful! There’s this new poster – “Your Country Needs You”, everyone is talking about it. RON: Other people who work with me are signing up as we’ve finally realised there is in fact going to be a war. I’m not sure if I should sign up? I wonder if it’s the same as Cadet Corps? Besides, if I do go I’ll probably come back a war hero!