The legacy of the world wars extends beyond the generation that lived through them. As part of the Dialect and Heritage Project, we returned to the places the fieldworkers visited during the SED and we have collected memories from people today. Many of them grew up hearing stories of the war years from their parents and grandparents. 

 

Diana from East Sussex remembers growing up during the war years and collecting rosehips at school for soldiers on the front line as they are high in Vitamin C – a small but meaningful act of solidarity that connected children at home with the troops abroad.  

Listen to Diana here.

Diana, East Sussex.

Transcript

Diana

We we had to go out with the teachers at school. We used to go out {CG} for walks and pick rose hips. 

Amy

Okay. What did you do with the rose hips?  

Diana

Well, they were sent during the war. They, they were made into a syrup. All the– all the school children everywhere done it, made into a syrup because that is an energy thing that they fed to soldiers. 

Amy 

It’s high in Vitamin C I think. Rose hip. 

Diana from East Sussex remembers growing up during the war years and collecting rosehips at school for soldiers on the front line as they are high in Vitamin C – a small but meaningful act of solidarity that connected children at home with the troops abroad. 

 

Diana

But very high. Yeah. 

Amy

So you were sent out with your teachers to collect it?  

Diana

Yeah, we we had to bring a pot or something to school, you know, tin pot or something to pick them in– 

Amy 

Oh, from home?  

Diana

Yeah. And then they would be sent off somewhere where they were all made into– Yeah. 

These contemporary voices remind us that the impact of the wars is still felt today.

Lest We Forget

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