Malcolm Burden as an able seaman, Royal Navy, and Dorothy Burden, discuss their experiences of the Second World War, interviewed by Alison Viney Houghton

Able Seaman Malcolm Burden, Royal Navy, and Dorothy Burden, interviewed by Alison Viney Houghton for her "The Age of Innocence 1937–1947" oral history project. The interview covers the Burdens' experiences as young people living through the Second World War in England. The interview is split over three cassettes. In the first tape, topics covered include the declaration of war, Malcolm's occupation as a cardboard box maker, rationing, education, HMS Tenacious, travel, transport (Gunner), being a newspaper printer and electrical storeman in SA, English domestic life during the war, bombings and air raid shelters, memories of Christmas and fresh fruit. In the second tape, topics covered include food eaten during the war and vitamin deficiency, rabbits as food, building destroyers, finances, personal life after the war, family sizes, life on board ship and at home, war stories, pen friends and the art of writing, modern attitudes to exercise and walking, tattoos (Malcolm has a Popeye tattoo), dried eggs, and smoking. In the third tape, topics covered include craft, education, sports and games, weather, diseases and medicine. A transcript of this recording is available. For further information please contact the Sound section.