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鈥楾his story was submitted to the 大象传媒 People's War site by a volunteer from CSV Oxford, on behalf of George Macey and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.鈥�

George was six years old when war broke out and living in Portsmouth, which was the main port of Britain, meant he was able to view some vivid scenes of the war, including the magnificent sight of Battleships. He was also able to hear the worrying humming noises from the barrage balloons.

Anderson shelters were corrugated iron structures, built in peoples鈥� gardens. George鈥檚 father grew vegetables over the top of their shelter because of the 鈥淒ig for Victory鈥� scheme. Lumps of earth fell through the gaps in the iron onto their heads sometimes! Some whole nights were spent in the shelter, when there were bomb threats, so that they would not have to keep going in and out throughout the night. The family cat automatically learnt to go to the shelter when the siren went too! In the next street, the biggest bomb to hit Portsmouth demolished two houses, but it did not go off. The Germans excavated it, but it was left until after the war. George would sometimes go out into the garden to watch the air-borne fights and he once saw a Pilot bail out of his plane.

Different buildings were used for different purposes- for example school assembly halls were full of people whose homes had been bombed, so school was disrupted, and gas mask fittings took place in the Church Hall. George can remember the 鈥淢ickey Mouse鈥� style of gas masks that were used for small children and babies. Gas masks had to be carried everywhere, otherwise you got a telling off by the Police. George did not have to use his. Around the city, large tanks formed the SWS Static Water Supply. These tanks were kept full of water in case the water supply was lost and also so that fire fighters could use some. Many people used to have fun and throw ice blocks at each other!
His elder sister was evacuated with her school, but was homesick and came home after a short time. The family stayed in Portsmouth for two years of the Blitz (which was the most intense period). However, they then moved to a quiet village near to Bognor Regis where his father worked for the aircraft producers. The Blitz stopped when they moved! The family returned to Portsmouth in early 1944. They had to rent accommodation without an air raid shelter, so a communal one had to be used and they had to take their own cushions. George recalls waking up weary and stiff! One of the reasons for returning was for the better education in the city. There were fierce teachers at the Elementary School and George was able to obtain a scholarship to Portsmouth Grammar School. In 1945, General Montgomery came to the school to give out prizes at the 鈥淪peech Day鈥�.

Entertainment evenings took place in the school hall so that the local troops could be entertained. George鈥檚 sisters took place in the shows and George would go along with his parents to watch; plus, there was usually jelly! George鈥檚 mother made intricate costumes for the shows, with patent leather and any scraps of material she could find. George remembers that one of the shows was the Three Little Pigs! Even though the school hall was not very sophisticated, the grown men in the troops were very grateful to the girls that had organised and participated in the shows. A solider called Ken, who was billeted with George鈥檚 family, had an infected heel, but would not do anything about it because he had a phobia of doctors. So, George鈥檚 mother put hot poultices on the heel and Ken was forever grateful to her when it healed.

Preparations and planning for D-Day took place just outside Portsmouth. The roads became packed with military vehicles that were heading for Normandy. Signposts were taken down all over the country and there were no maps either! Nobody talked about what was going on and there was not any gossiping. This meant that the Germans had no idea that this invasion was imminent.

News bulletins on the radio announced when the war had finished. Thousands of people crowded into Guildhall Square to celebrate the news. Street parties also took place with long tables being laid down in the middle of the streets. Everyone took part and brought food, but as many things were rationed, they were not the most lavish of parties!

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