Eliza Brown

Born in Howden le Wear, youngest of 13 children. Parents - father an Annfield Plain miner. Eliza started work at 14, nursemaid. Became a postwoman during world war one 1914-21 -duties, rounds, clothing, training, got in trouble for taking a short cut, police had to escort her in one section, shifts, clothing, working in the snow, helping police, arguing with other workers, delivering to gypsies. Married George Brown and lived in Stanley. Caned at school, no sympathy from parents. No sex education. Children all shared bedroom. Dolls. Given chores as children. Health care as a child, home remedies, doctor, chemist.

Location: Howden le Wear, Crook, Stanley
County: Durham
AUD1990-41

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Transcript of audio:
Then the Burns' Pit at the same time it fired, just over where we used to go to deliver letters. I can't tell you exactly how many men it was but it was a hundred and something and they were digging the trenches in the cemetery just down there, and I watched them digging one morning when I was coming back to come past the church. I just watched and I thought `Oh God love them all'. I went to the funerals of them on the Sunday and Monday; the boss let us all off and it was a day and a half, and a few weeks after when I used to go across the fields I would see some wild flowers, well I couldn't afford good flowers, so I used to go and put - I think it's in the paper there- I used to go and put a few wild flowers on those poor lads' graves.

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