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This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Ben Russell from CSV Action Desk on behalf of Margaret Jackson (nee Storey) and has been added to the site with her permission. Margaret Jackson (nee Storey) fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

We moved to bath in 1937 when my father was employed as a Cemetery foreman. Our house was the cemetery lodge, just inside the gates and a little isolated from the surrounding houses.

On the night of my 10th birthday, the 25th April 1942 and the following night, my mother, sister and myself spent the night under the dining room table listening to bombs falling all around us. We ended up with 5 holes in the roof and no glass in the windows.

The gasworks were hit on the sat night and as my mother had an electric oven she spent the next morning cooking dinner for our neighbours. My father got leave form the army and arrived to help on the Monday evening. That was one birthday that I will not forget in a hurry!

The following is a poem written by Margaret Jackson (nee Storey) in 1946.

I remember, I remember, the days before the war
When sweets were off the ration
And there were oranges galore
When eggs were bought by dozens
And bananas by the score
Ice cream emn on cycles
Pedalled from door to door.

I remember. I remember, that dark days of the war
When bombs and shells were falling
And wardens word was law
Gas masks then with us travelled
Where ere we chanced to roam
We spent our nights in shelters
Instead of in our home.

I remember, I remember, the days that followed the war
When food and goods grew scarcer
And queues got more and more
When clothes and shoes were precious
And we were told to save
Coupons and points abounded
While fruit and sweets we craved.

Oh I wonder, oh I wonder, what we have in store
Will we have the peace and plenty
That we鈥檝e been striving for
Will our lads be well rewarded
For the sacrifices made
We are looking to the future
Full of hope and unafraid.

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