大象传媒

The War Years.

Born in Liverpool in 1937, brought to London by Father in 1938, he needed work, and settled in Brixton Hill, South London.

In 1939 I lived with Dad, Mum and 14 months younger brother in a first floor one bedroom council flat which had very basic facilities, a gas cooker, a large gas copper boiler (Used for washing clothes and us!) an open coal fire, no carpets just lino on the floors.

The Battle of Britain, in the summer of 1940,and the London Blitz in 1941 took place, During the London Blitz we were evacuated first to a farm somewhere in Wales, but mother, being a city girl hated rural life on a farm, she was asked to help with the animals etc, she did receive eggs and milk, but brought us back to London to face the war as father had remained in London working as a Postman throughout the blitz period, as children of 4 and 5 years of age we were to spend our days looking for shrapnel (bits of bombs or shells which fell during the nights, sometimes still warm!!) and our nights, being woken by Air Raid Sirens, and as we were taken to the shelters in our night-clothes by teenage neighbours, watching the searchlights crossing the dark sky and seeing a deadly ballet as a tiny silver German Bomber was being picked out, trying to evade the searchlights but eventually all the searchlights converging on the aircraft and the ack ack guns firing!! (An Ack Ack gun emplacement operated from Clapham Common) once in the in the shelter hearing and feeling the "Crump Crump" as bombs fell on London, then to be returned to our beds on the All Clear Siren!!

The second evacuation took us to Liverpool, where I remember being housed with an aunt and her family, funny little memories, seeing American servicemen and watching some female painting lines on the back of her legs with a dye in lieu of stockings, chasing after the Americans (Yanks) asking for chewing gum "Got any gum chum" being driven about by lorry, probably a drayman鈥檚 round, outside loo's, newspaper for toilet!! must date this period around 1943/1944 as the Americans were active about this time? second brother born. In 1943.

I can remember seeing aircraft vapour trails in the clear blue sky over London during the Battle of Britain but being 4 years old I wonder?? The battle raged over Kent and the south of England. The Blitz I do remember with reasonable clarity, many of my childhood memories have gone, but this particular period seems to have had quite an impact on my very young mind.

The V1 "Doodlebug" and the V2 Rocket were the most terrifying weapons sent by Hitler to punish the British Nation, I can remember the sound of the 鈥淒oodlebug鈥� as if it were today, very sinister and quite distinctive, this pulse jet driven monster, had a deep staccato slow beat (like a big single motorcycle) which when it ceased gave 12 seconds of free fall, then 1000 pounds of high explosive deposited itself on the ground, generally in the south of London or the fields of Kent, night after night these things rained on us, over 4000 were delivered before the launch sites in France were overpowered, we were very lucky to escape as one exploded near to our flat hitting a road junction about half a mile away , it took out the windows, but we were not taken to shelters anymore mother considered that the kitchen table was enough protection! We survived!!

Other memories are gas masks, sheltering in the Tube station at Clapham South, the number of bomb sites which were to become playgrounds for children, very dangerous as many were unstable and did cause death and injury to many youngsters, as were the emergency water tanks, these were large concrete tanks sunk into any available ground for use in the fight against burning buildings, but they also attracted children as they were, during the hot summers, makeshift swimming pools, problem being that the insides were very steep and anyone getting in without someone to get them out, perished!! Anti-personnel weapons were also dropped over London, warnings were issued not to touch such things as pens and pencils, any attractive trinket as all designed to maim or kill when picked up by children or adults, but boys (and girls) will be!! so I am sure many tragedies occurred, phosphor bombs were also to be found after raids and could explode on moving or dousing with water, unexploded bombs were also to be a nightmare for all as evacuations from homes were necessary, bomb disposal teams were some of the un-sung heroes of the war, many accidents happened all were to add to the strain of civilians on the receiving end of war. "D" Day was 6th June 1944 when the allied powers landed on mainland France and started the long march through to Berlin and the conquest of Germany, "VE" in August 1945 and a victory celebration was held at Trafalgar Square London, mother for some reason took me and first brother on the bus to see the celebrations, all I remember are the crowds, a small child looking up at masses of adults all cheering and happy! Until Victory Arch where we were overcome by the crowds resulting in us is lifted up on the shoulders of servicemen and carried down the Mall in style!!!

The War ended but my education was nil! I did know how to collect shrapnel to identify aircraft by the sound of their engines, and could tell the difference between enemy and friendly aircraft!!

Dad was called up in 1941 at age 36; he was a late entry due to his age!! he rejoined the Royal Artillery ( 1925 鈥� 1930) and fought in the Desert war as an anti-tank gunner, which resulted later in life a loss of hearing, he then travelled up through Italy, Austria, Germany, France and back to England, like many of his comrades he said little to me about his war. Wounded men who were convalescing in GB from action, were issued with a blue coat and red tie to distinguish them from non 鈥揷ombatants.

I do chuckle to myself when comparing my early childhood with that of my own children and grandchildren. With their food fads, obesity, and pernickety eating habits, we war children had food and clothing rationing which meant that any meal was eaten as it was the only option, most of my memories centre around broken biscuits, dried egg powder, bread and jam, and stew!

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