When war broke out in 1939, Josephine - who loved fashion and design - was living in Edinburgh working as an apprentice dressmaker and had recently become engaged to

Thomas Roberts.

 

In her journal she admits that, in her youth and ignorance, she felt a strange sense of excitement when she first heard Churchill's declaration of war.

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            Those thoughts of excitement did not last long.

 

Like thousands of men across Britain and the Commonwealth, Thomas Roberts answered the call and joined up - seeking adventure and the chance to travel, he successfully enlisted in the RAF and was posted overseas almost immediately. 

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Back in Edinburgh Josephine's dressmaking job came to an end and she volunteered for war work - in a bus-station-now-turned-factory which was making wings and ailerons for

Lancaster Bombers.

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​​​​In the summer of 1941Thomas's parents received the telegram dreaded by all:

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                                     Thomas Roberts:  'Missing - presumed dead'

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           On hearing the news Josephine became severely ill - waiting, worrying, wondering.

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