大象传媒

I was 4 years old around 1940. I remember having to go to the shelter and on odd occasions sleeping the night there. We lived on a hill overlooking Southampton Docks and I have a vivid memory of the Margarine Works blazing. It would have been soon after that we were sent to Pennington where Gran lived, it seemed safer deep in the Hampshire countryside. Gran must have bought us a bungalow next to a 'tin hut' opposite the common. Some time later soldiers moved into the hut and set up a gun on the common. During the war that gun was fired twice, both for practice! I became 5 years old and had to start school. We used to go out sometimes and pick rosehips as a school project and I remember that we had a spoonful of Malt everyday at school. It came out of a huge jar - I liked it!
Food was short, but plenty of vegetables. Mum sometimes got hold of a large bone then stewed it to get the goodness out. With the veg added it made quite a tasty meal. We had a roast once a week and the odd egg now and again. Extra eggs were obtained by the lad in the garage, he used to go on the marshes and collect seagull eggs. They were all right - slightly salty.
One spectacle I remember was the drone of aeroplanes one evening. Looking out I saw the sky full with planes, some gliders being towed and all heading south. We found out later it was D day. The war ended and Dad arrived back home. Other than that the war was a little boring for a young lad like me!

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