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I was born 17.02.1937 in Oldham Lancs, and moved to Marston Green, Birmingham the same year. On September 3rd 1939 I would have been 2 years old.

We lived quite close to Coventry, and as the city was a target for German bombs, my Mother, 3 year old brother and I returned to Oldham for a couple of years. Father was a psychiatric nurse at the Hospital in Marston Green.
He cared for people with learning difficulties. Because of the work he did, by necessity he had to stay and look after the patients.

When we returned to Marston Green, I can remember that we had an ‘Anderson’ air raid shelter in the back room. It took up the whole room. I can only remember using it once.

We all had gas masks.

The street had a VE party. Tables all the way down. Mum made me a frilly dress in red, white and blue.

I remember doing two other things.
1. Part of the hospital where Dad worked was used for Canadian soldiers to convalesce. They gave the children of the village a Christmas party and made us gifts. Mine was a small wooden dolls cot with rockers and all the bed clothes.

2. German and Italian soldiers who were prisoners of war came and did some work in our road. They were there for the whole of one winter at least. We used to talk to them and sit around the brazier to keep warm in the snow whilst they told us stories. They were very kind to us children, and people gave them nice food even though it was scarce.

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by June Woodhouse of the CSV Action Desk at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Hereford and Worcester on behalf of Patricia Phillips and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

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