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I had just turned six years of age and had started school at Harrison Road Infants School, where thankfully, if my sleep had been interrupted by 'Mr Hitler' the previous night, I had a 'kip' in the classroom during 1.30 to 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

I lived in Belgrave, an area of Leicester where there were many houses, with my mother, father and sister. Dad went into the Army in the early 1940's where he served in Belgium and Egypt with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (R.A.O.C.)

The war became more aware to our family when an Anderson shelter was sited at the bottom of the garden. Most families had a similar protection provided and on the sound of sirens, off we would troop whatever what was overhead, planes or weather, never appreciating how long we would be there. The sound of aircraft in the sky drew the remark'Was it one of ours?'

The next morning it was an early breakfast if rations allowed and if it was quiet in the clouds, we would listen to our battery powered wireless in search of news of bombings. There was no local radio and the Leicester Mercury remained a good source of information.

By 1942 I was then old enough to assist 'Our Street' by placing out plates (red and white ringed) on the front gate of houses where the senior male occupant would that night be one of a number of Air Raid Wardens. All lights had to be out by dusk, but often you would hear a shout of 'Put that light out'.

Events round the world helped to understand who was engaged in the war(s) and my father's letters were always eagerly awaited and I recall his homecoming, when, still in uniform, he got off a local bus and turned the street corner and living halfway along we ran to welcome him back.

Street parties greeted in the ending of the conflict to which everyone joined in.

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Christina Cazalet of CSV Action Desk Leicester on behalf of Ron Barston and has been added with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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