大象传媒

One of my first memories is of seeing a barrage balloon for the first time floating over my school and then of my mother entering the classroom to take me home, much to my annoyance. However, I persuaded her to let me stay and I suppose the teacher assured her that it was quite safe for me to stay. The appearance of these balloons caused great excitement among the children, but consternation among the mothers.

During air raids, my young brother and I sheltered under the stairs. During the night of the big raid the ceilings of our bedrooms fell. We were very lucky as the next morning showed mounds of rubble where houses and shops had been, and an air raid shelter full of people, including soldiers home on leave, was flattened killing everyone. We had to live with my granny while our house was repaired.

At the end of the war we had a big street party to celebrate, mainly for the children, but it was very sad for those who had lost children in the bombing. One of my uncles (a soldier) who had spent most of the war years in Europe arrived home on leave much to the relief and delight of the whole family.

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