大象传媒

This Story was submitted to the Peoples War site by Martin Hough a volunteer on CSV Actiondesk on behalf of George Richard Robinson, and has been added to the site with his permission Mr Robinson fully understands the sites terms and conditions

My earliest recollection as a child of eight was my Father putting brown paper tape on the windows, this was to stop us being injured from splinters of glass if the windows were blow in. I also remember the candle lanterns which we took down to the Anderson shelter when the air raid siren was sounded. We would be hearded down to the shelter where we listend to the drone of aircraft and the thud of bombs.

One night our house in Kingstone Terrace, Small Heath was bombed. The whole terrace was destroyed and mines were still unexploded.

Next day our house had not been flattened, but was badly damaged. I can remember being told by the ARP Wardens to get out as soon as possible due to unexploded bombs being in the vicinity, my Father grabbed my two younger brothers, one under each arm and ran down the terrace with my mom and myself following behind. We were allowed to shelter in the Birmingham Corporation bus garage which was on the opposite side of the road, I can still see the hose pipes all stretched out across the road and the fire engines lined up, the noise was appaling.

The whole family was then evacuated to Rowley Regis,we were put up for a few days at the "Blue Bird" toffee factory and for a few days at the Sons of Rest in Haden Hill Park at Old Hill, finally we were given a cottage at Bell End, Rowley Regis

I can remember going to school and on the way we spoke to Italian and German Prisoners of war who were building at Thorpe Estate. I remember going to see a German plane which had been shot down in the Turners Hill area, there was also a search light and barrage balloon unit there. I remember one of the neighbours had a son who used to come home in a tank for his lunch.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.