大象传媒

the first inkling Ihad that something was different was as I went to school one Monday morning in 1939 and the teachers were shaking their heads at each other in disbelief. I later found out that we were at war with Germany!
I lived in a village near Bury, Lancs, called Calrose: no bus service, only one shop - so can you imagine the excitement I felt when the village was overrun with soldiers - the CAVALRY no less!
Soon on some street corners the soldiers set up large water taps, and bustled about converting old factories in to stables for their horses.
As I and some friends were only 8 we were highly delighted, as the soldiers were so kind to us. They kept saying, "Have you got any older sisters?" (which I did)>

They allowed us to buy Devon toffee from the NAAFI - no coupons needed as by then we had been issued with ration books which meant anything we bought was rationed - food,clothes, and - most important to me - sweets.

The soldiers had camp concerts. I could go if any of my sisters took me. One of my sisters was reluctant to take me, and used to say there wasn't a concert when there was.
Our days at school were often interrupted by an air raid - the sirens would sound and we would all go down to the shelters, where we would sing songs - which I preferred to lessons in boring old history!
The soldiers allowed us to go in to the stables and help with feeding the horses. I still remember the loud crunching sound the horses made when they ate, and when we stroked them it felt like touching velvet.
I don't know how long the soldiers were there but when they left (and I remember that well) as the snow was falling I felt so sad to see them leave.
At night we had to close the blackout curtains. If the slightest chink of light shone out the ARP wardens would knock on the windows. No street lights were allowed, and no torches or even cigarettes outside - it was really scary. We also had brown sticky tape on all windows to avoid it shattering in case of bombing.[UNFINISHED]

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